Drugs bust at the border
A South African who works as a tuck-shop cleaner might have to clean up his behaviour as well after he was caught at Maitengwe border post with a substance suspected to be cannabis.
31-year-old Fumani Mthembu had caught a ride with a truck driver and was en-route to Zimbabwe when he came unstuck on Tuesday (9th August) morning.
According to Tutume Station Commander, Jerry Halahala, the suspect was arrested at around 8am when a quick search of the truck led to the discovery of a suspicious looking greenish substance.
“The suspected cannabis, which has been taken for forensic analysis, weighed approximately 2,000 grams, with a street value of
around P5,000,” revealed Halahala, adding cases of people smuggling drugs are very worrisome in his jurisdiction.
Arraigned before Masunga Magistrates’ Court, despite his best efforts at freedom, Mthembu was remanded in custody.
“My worship, I plead that I be granted bail so my country can be notified that I have a case in Botswana. I also have a family that depends on me for survival. My life is in South Africa and Zimbabwe, I was only in Botswana on transit,” he said.
However, with no fixed place of abode locally, court was left with little choice but to deny Mthembu’s request and send him to jail. He is due back in court on Tuesday 23rd August.