Durban - Parents should warn their children not to accept sweets from strangers, says an activist after police discovered a drug dubbed “jelly babies” at a laboratory in Chatsworth at the weekend.Police believe the drug, which resembles a sweet, which was found along with ingredients and moulding equipment, may be new to Durban.
Three people were arrested in the raid, at a house in Hawk Street, Kharwastan, on Friday night.
Police spokeswoman, Lieutenant Nqobile Gwala, described the discovery as a major breakthrough.
The Durban Flying Squad and Organised Crime Unit had initially intercepted a drug deal taking place in a parking lot near a shopping centre in North Beach that evening.
Police, including members of the Hawks, then received information that a home in Kharwastan was producing the drugs.
“Police surrounded and then stormed the double-storey house where ‘jelly babies’ were being produced. Cellphones, a laptop and two gas guns were also recovered from the suspects,” Gwala said.
Police found plastic containers and bowls containing the ingredients used in the mixture of the drugs on a dining room table.
An assortment of fondant-icing-like items in the shape of sweets; chemicals; and plastic trays used to mould the drugs, were also found.
A source said the ingredients included dagga, pseudoephedrine, alcohol, gelatine, sugar and citric acid.
Police said the suspects lived in the home and cooked and manufactured the drugs on the stove they used to warm their own food.
Three men, aged between 27 and 39, were charged with possession of drugs.
They were expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Sam Pillay, of the Anti-Drug Forum in Durban, said there had been a similar drug bust in the same road three years ago.
He could not be certain if it was at the same house.
Pillay said anti-drug activists were concerned about moves to legalise dagga - which had been found during the raid - and which he said was known to be highly addictive.
Also on Friday, four men were arrested for dealing in heroin in Sirdar Road, Clairwood. The Hawks found them in possession of 156 capsules.
They have been charged with seven counts of dealing in drugs and were expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
* The SAPS said on Monday that border police and the SANDF recovered 11 bags of dagga, with a street value of R250 000, in the Pongola area on Wednesday. Suspects are still at large.
VIA - iol.co.za
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