Police nab alleged drug dealers in EL

SEVEN people were arrested in Mdantsane and Cambridge over the weekend for allegedly dealing in drugs.

Police spokesman Captain Nkosikho Mzuku said the suspects were caught during an anti-crime operation carried out at the Highway Shopping Mall and Cambridge on Saturday.

“During an operation at Highway Shopping Mall, a 29-year-old foreign national was arrested for possession of tik,” he said.

In another operation in Mdantsane, two suspects, aged 25 and 28, were arrested while allegedly in possession of several drugs. These included mandrax tablets and dagga.

“They were found in possession of 21 mandrax tablets, 40 dagga bompies and 11 arms of dagga,” he said.

The operations proceeded to Cambridge location and several houses were searched.

“Three suspects aged 22, 24 and 27 years old were arrested for possession of 37 mandrax tablets and 14 dagga bompies,” said Mzuku.

The operation was concluded at Vincent Park where a foreign national was arrested for possession of cocaine and an undisclosed amount of cash.

“The estimated street value of the drugs is R7 000,” he said.

Mzuku said the suspects were due to appear in the Mdantsane and East London magistrate’s courts soon on charges of illegal possession of drugs.

Three other suspects who were also arrested during drug raids late last week would also appear in court soon, added Mzuku.

Among those was a 35-year-old Ethiopian national who is facing charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition and possession of suspected stolen goods. He was arrested in East London on Thursday.

“Police confiscated two plasma TVs, a .38 special revolver, 27 rounds of live ammunition, a cellphone, cameras and several bank cards,” he said.

On the same day, two women, aged 35 and 53, were arrested in Cambridge for dealing in drugs. This was after police raided an alleged drug outlet in Garcia flats. They confiscated mandrax tablets with an estimated street value of R540 and an undisclosed amount of cash.