FREE STATE – The police worked with several stakeholders to nab 17 people for drug-related crimes over the past weekend and seized drugs worth thousands of rands.

Five suspects were arrested in quick succession for dealing in drugs by the Mangaung Metro Tactical Response Team on Thursday 12 January 2023. The team received intelligence on drug trafficking and peddling. They visited five places of interest, arrested the five suspects, and seized dagga, crystal meth, and cash.

At one of the places of interest, a suspect was arrested inside the Southern Landfill Site at about 11:00. The team searched the landfill site’s temporary erected living structure and discovered sachets of crystal meth, a ball of crystal meth, and dagga. The 27-year-old man, who is also a foreign national, was arrested.

Following information about three identified locations where dagga and drugs are being sold, the Petrus Steyn Station Commander, Detectives, and Phuthaditjhaba Tactical Response Team conducted a special operation at Mamafubedu,Petrus Steyn. They searched three houses where they found dagga and crystal meth drugs from six individuals they apprehended.

On Friday, information was received from Provincial Counter Narcotics about a white Scania truck with a GP registration number travelling on the N1 Highway. The truck was spotted and then pulled over near Ventersburg.Members discovered 2800 bundles of Khat plants packaged in boxes. A 53-year-old truck driver was arrested for possessing R280 000 worth Khat plant drugs.

The same day, members of Welkom Public Order Police Unit deployed in Mangaung Metro arrested five suspects and removed dangerous drugs from the streets. The team received information from community members about drug peddling in Phase 6 in the Bloemspruit area, they immediately acted on the given information. They seized drugs, including Mandrax, Chrystal Meth and CAT.

Cases were opened at the Petrus Steyn, Bloemspruit, Ventersburg and Kopanong police stations. The suspects will appear in court soon.

The Provincial Commissioner of the Police in the Free State, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane warned drug peddlers that police are on their heels. “I want to thank members who work tirelessly to apprehend drug peddlers who destroy our communities and take drugs from the street,” said Lt Genl Motswenyane.

Source: South African Police Service (SAPS)