Two arrested in mandeni drug bust, narcotics worth r22 000 seized
Two people were arrested during a drug bust in Mandeni after narcotics worth over R22 000 were seized. Police found them in possession of mandrax, cocaine, heroin, crystal meth, ecstasy, and dagga.
The operation was conducted by the iLembe District Police in collaboration with the KZN Provincial Drug and Firearm Unit and other law enforcement agencies.
The arrests followed a tip-off about a known drug dealer who had recently relocated to Mandeni and was actively involved in the illicit drug trade.
Police apprehended a 31-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman, both charged under the contravention of the Drug and Drug Trafficking Act. They appeared before the KwaDukuza Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 25 April, and will remain in police custody.
During the operation, officers seized a significant quantity of narcotics, including mandrax tablets, rock cocaine, heroin powder, cocaine powder, methcathinone, crystal meth, ecstasy tablets, and dagga.
ILembe police commissioner, Major General Anthony Gopaul, praised the success of the operation. He said: “I commend the officers for their dedication in executing this operation. My appreciation extends to the external units that assisted in making this arrest possible. Our commitment to keeping drugs off the streets remains steadfast, and we will continue to conduct similar operations to curb crime in our communities.”
The scourge of drugs is an issue faced by the communities of Tongaat and Verulam too often, with drug busts or crimes involving drug users being a common problem in the area.
Drug users resorting to petty theft to allegedly fuel their addiction is a regular occurrence, as highlighted by Reaction Unit South Africa recently putting out a warning to shoppers in the Verulam CBD after attending several calls of valuables, including mobile phones, groceries, and food being removed from vehicles, allegedly by drug users.
Rusa Spokesperson Prem Balram said: “On Tuesday, 22 April, reaction officers attended to a callout on Wick Street after a drug user removed two grass cutters from the rear of a bakkie. He abandoned the equipment when he was pursued by the owner.”
In April 2024, Verulam SAPS arrested one suspect and recovered 209 pieces of rock cocaine, valued at R30 000, 135 green and white heroin capsules, valued at R4 000, 90 red and white heroin capsules, valued at R3 000, 10 mandrax tablets, valued at R500, and 150g of high-grade dagga, valued at R5 000, in an incident in Trenance Park.
Verulam SAPS spokesperson, Constable Bongiwe Ngcobo, said: “Drugs are one of our priority crimes, which contribute to domestic violence, assaults, petty thefts, and burglaries at residential premises. We are once again urging our communities to provide us with information that can assist in the fight against drugs.”
In March 2024, Verulam police arrested one of their own when Constable Sherwynn Ezra Chetty was found transporting various illicit drugs in a marked vehicle in full uniform, allegedly under the employ of a drug dealer.
