Bail bid by businessman arrested in R1.5m drug bust

A DURBAN businessman arrested for being in possession of drugs, drug manufacturing goods and cash worth an estimated R1.5 million, applied for bail in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Construction business owner Yaseen Sheik Mohamed, 53, was arrested by members of the Provincial Organised Crime Unit, Durban metro police drug task team and Hawks on December 28.

Members had swooped on his premises in uMhlanga, after receiving information of a suspected clandestine drug lab being run from the Ridgeton Towers flat.

During the bust, drugs (heroin and mandrax), drug manufacturing machinery, drug paraphernalia, packaging material and about R100 000 cash were seized.

During the bail application, investigating officer Constable Riyadh Ismail Adam, who took to the witness stand, told the court that he had received a call from an informant about suspicious activity at the flat, and that an Asian man frequented the premises throughout the day.

“I went to meet the informant, who pointed out the flat. No one was there at the time. While standing (there), I got a really strong smell of vinegar coming out the flat. From past experience, heroin normally gives off the smell of vinegar.

“After keeping observation for a while, the lights were turned on in the flat, and there was movement. I went to the parking lot to find a white Ford Ranger in the flat’s parking bay,” he said.

Adam further said that he did not approach the accused out of fear that he would destroy the evidence, and thereafter requested back-up.

“We parked outside the flat, and a short while later, the Asian man fitting the description given by the informant came out the flat, and began walking towards the Ford Ranger.

“The members and I approached him, and identified ourselves and explained his constitutional rights to him. We asked him what was in the flat, to which he replied heroin plants,” he said.

Adam went on to tell the court, that Mohamed then unlocked the doors, and gave the officers permission to search the premises.

“We found a large quantity of clear capsules on the kitchen counter, grey tablets suspected to be mandrax and a shoe-box full of money. In the lounge area a scale, grader, large amount carrier packets and a large foil packet with pink and clear capsules were found.

“Upon inspecting the bedroom more foil packets with pink and clear capsules were found, several perspex trays as well as ‘cloth’ with foreign (Arabic) language written on it. To my knowledge, drugs come packed in these cloths when they are smuggled into the country,” he alleged.

Mohamed was arrested and detained at the Durban North police holding cells.

He made his first appearance on December 31, and was remanded back into police custody.

In an affidavit read into the record by his attorney, Faizel Kara, Mohamed said he was the sole provider of his family, which included two daughters, two sons and two wives living at different premises.

Mohamed, who has one pending case, said he was not a flight a risk as he was in possession of a substantial amount of assets and businesses, and that he would also hand over his passport to the investigating officer.

In his affidavit, Mohamed further stated that he had been put on trial by the media.

The bail application is set to continue today.