Police find dagga capsules in South End drugs swoop

DAGGA capsules were found among a stash of drugs confiscated from a South End duplex yesterday.

Heroin and the capsules, believed to be filled with dagga oil, were confiscated.

Detectives estimate the street value of the drugs to be about R500 000.

A man was arrested after police raided The Heads in Gladstone Street shortly before 2am.

The 39-year-old man, who is not being named until he is formally charged, is due to appear in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s court today.

Several police officials from the Crime Combating Unit raided the complex after receiving a tip-off that a flat was being used as a drug den.

Police spokesman Colonel Priscilla Naidu said they raided the duplex once a warrant was obtained after receiving reliable information.

“The information suggests that the suspect deals in drugs from the flatlet in the complex,” she alleged.

Naidu said this was based on the quantity of drugs found inside the unit.

“It allows us to upgrade the charge from possession of drugs to dealing in drugs.”

Naidu said the dagga capsules were a fairly uncommon find in the city but appeared to be an up-and-coming drug.

“This is one of the first busts in the Bay where we have ready-packaged capsules filled with dagga oil.

“It is a concern that this could be the up-and-coming drug craze. The capsules have been sent to the forensic laboratory for testing for us to establish their exact contents and to see if the suspected [dagga] oil is laced with other chemicals.”

For years activists have said the oil has medicinal properties to assist people suffering from illnesses, including cancer.

In a separate bust earlier this week, police arrested a 29-year-old man near Butterworth for allegedly cultivating dagga plants.

The dagga plants are valued at R35 000.

Naidu said as the festive season approached, police had planned several operations to stop the transport of drugs between towns as well as a clamp on those dealing in drugs.