Drug dealing suspects in dock despite bribe bid

THREE alleged drug dealers are expected to appear in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court in Durban today after failing in an attempt to bribe the arresting officers with R100 000, KwaZulu-Natal police said.

The three were arrested on Friday during a joint operation by the SAPS provincial drug task team and the K9 unit, with the assistance of the police crime intelligence unit and the Durban metro police drug task team, police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Thulani Zwane said.

The arrested suspects, aged between 40 and 45, will appear in court on charges of dealing in drugs. One will face a further charge of bribery, he said.

“After several months of observations and conducting an undercover operation the members arrested the first suspect at Pelican Drive in the Bayview area. He was found in possession of cocaine.

“On further investigation the suspect was taken to his house in the area where more cocaine as well as powder suspected to be drugs were found with a street value of more than R500 000. Two more suspects were arrested in the house.”

One of the suspects tried to bribe the officers to release the arrested suspects. She allegedly handed over R100 000 in cash to the officers, but they “refused to get involved”. She was arrested for bribery and the cash was seized, Zwane said.

KwaZulu-Natal acting police commissioner Major-General Bheki Langa commended the police team for their efforts.

“We have a dedicated and committed team. Those people who bribe our members, thinking that they will get away with crime, will find themselves in jail.”

He appealed to communities to provide information about drug dealers in their areas. “Community members can use our Crime Stop number 08600 10111 to provide information if they fear for their lives.”