WESTERN CAPE - 4 DRUG DEALERS NABBED WITH R7.5 MILLION WORTH OF MANDRAX NEAR VREDENBURG

Four alleged drug dealers, aged between 31 and 58, have been arrested near Vredenburg after being found with Mandrax tablets valued at R7.5 million hidden in false compartments of a truck, police said on Tuesday.

Spokesperson Captain Lloyd Ramovha said the men were caught after an intelligence led operation by members of the Directorate For Priority Crime Investigation’s South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB).

JOHANNESBURG - 2 NIGERIAN DRUG DEALERS ARRESTED WITH DRUGS WORTH R2 MILLION IN BRYANSTON

Two Nigerian nationals were arrested in Bryanston by members of the Hawks for dealing in drugs worth R2 million.

The investigation team recovered and seized 7kg of Ephedrine, 2.5kg of Cocaine and R4 250-00 in cash.

The suspects, aged 42 and 44 years, will appear before the Alexandra Magistrates Court today, 24 November 2016.

VIA - SA Police Service

GAUTENG - ELSBURG POLICE RECOVER DRUGS WORTH R85 000

Elsburg SAPS during an intell driven operation on Wednesday 23 November, recovered approximately R85 000 worth of drugs including Mandrax tablets. SAPS are investigating.

BEAUFORT WEST - 2 MEN ARRESTED WITH DAGGA VALUED AT R1.5 MILLION

Two men from Beaufort-West, aged 64 and 35 respectively, appeared in the Beaufort-West magistrates’ court yesterday after being charged with dealing in drugs.

This follows their arrest when members attached the Provincial Detective’s Narcotics and Central Karoo K-9 unit, conducted a search at their home that is situated in Herman Street. The officers discovered and confiscated 574 dagga trees, 12.6 kg dried dagga, almost 10 000 dagga seeds and 320ml cannabis oil.

The total street value of the dagga is estimated at about R1.5m. Both suspects were arrested on the spot and were detained at the Beaufort-West police holding cells. They appeared in the local magistrates’ court earlier today and were remanded in custody pending further investigation.

The two accused, David Adams (64) and Mugabo Yusuf (34) were remanded in custody while the matter was postponed to Friday, 25 November 2016.

VIA - SA Police Service

JOHANNESBURG - 2 DRUG MULES ARRESTED AT OR TAMBO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

On Saturday, 19 November 2016, custom officials at the OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), whilst on routine search, arrested a 32 year-old man, Samuel Thami Mthembu who is a South African citizen and a 38-year old woman, Idaia Abudo Ussene, a Mozambican national for allegedly dealing in drugs.

Mthembu, who is employed as a SAA crew member, was arrested by Customs after 35 902 Epilim, Gabapentin brown and Burk and Proctosedyl Suppositones tablets were found concealed in his travelling bag. The estimated street value has not yet been confirmed. The suspect was travelling from London to ORTIA.

In a separate incident Ussene who was enroute from Soa Paulo, Brazil to Maputo, Mozambique was found to have concealed cocaine in a luggage bag containing handbags with a false compartment, weighing 10 410 grams and  an estimated street value of R3 123 000.00.

The two suspects have been handed to the SAPS’ Trans-National Investigation Team based at ORTIA to conduct further investigations. Both suspects have appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 21 November 2016.

Ussene has been denied bail and is remanded in custody and Mthembu has been granted bail of R1000.00. The duo will appear in court again on 3 February 2017.

Praises are bestowed on the men and women in blue and also to the custom officials, for their tireless efforts and being vigilant at all times, by refusing to be outwitted by these drug lords. Having thwarted these thread of drugs into our communities, these harmful substances were prevented to destroy more lives.

VIA - saps.gov.za

JOHANNESBURG - WOMAN TRAVELLING FROM BRAZIL CAUGHT WITH R3 MILLION WORTH OF COCAINE

 A woman has been caught trying to smuggle cocaine into the country via OR Tambo International Airport.

The South Africa Revenue Service (Sars) customs officials stopped the woman as she touched down from Brazil.The drugs, worth nearly R3 million, were found in the nine handbags she was travelling with.

Sars spokesperson Sandile Memela says it is believed that the cocaine was destined for Mozambique.

“The woman has been handed over to the South African police for investigation and possible prosecution.”

VIA - ewn.co.za

JOHANNESBURG - MAYOR LAUNCHES NEW K9 NARCOTICS UNIT TO PUT A STOP TO THE DRUG PROBLEM

Members of the K9 Narcotics Unit at the JMPD Academy on 21 November 2016.

Image by: Neo Goba

Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba‚ together with the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD)‚ on Monday launched a specialised dog unit to strengthen the fight against crime.

The aim of the K9 Narcotics Unit is to respond to serious and violent crimes due related to the drug trade‚ as well as armed robberies and motor vehicle hijackings.

The unit will work together with the South African Police Service‚ Crime Intelligence‚ the South African Revenue Services‚ tracking companies‚ community policing forums as well as members of society‚ according to Mashaba.

“We cannot accept criminals taking over our communities and running them like their own personal empires. As a parent‚ I’ve had enough of how drugs are destroying the lives of many of our young people in our city and across the nation‚” said Mashaba said at the at the JMPD Academy in Booysens on Monday.

The unit consists of 60 officers who are trained in special weapons and tactics.

“The JMPD looked at the best performing officers with the highest level of integrity to fill up this K9 Narcotics Unit. The unit will also be capacitated with high-calibre firearms and high-performance vehicles‚" said Mashaba.

The city currently has 24 dogs - four of which will deal with narcotics. In addition‚ the city has already purchased 19 dogs which are currently being trained.

VIA - timeslive.co.za

CAPE TOWN - MAN ARRESTED WITH 90 000 MANDRAX TABLETS WORTH OVER R4.5 MILLION

 A man has been arrested after he was found in possession of 90,000 mandrax tablets.

Western Cape traffic officials stopped a vehicle just outside Laingsburg while on its way to Cape Town this morning.

A search of the car uncovered five bags containing the drugs.

Western Cape traffic chief Kenny Africa said: “After thorough inspection of the car, they confiscated five bags containing 90,000 madrex tablets with a street value of R4,5 million.”

VIA - ewn.co.za

JOHANNESBURG - R2 MILLION WORTH OF VIAGRA TABLETS DISCOVERED EN ROUTE FROM HONG KONG

The South African Revenue Service (Sars) says it handed over Viagra worth more than R2 million to the Port Health Authority after seizing the drug in a random check at OR Tambo International Airport.

Sars customs officials and detector dogs discovered 22,800 Viagra tablets behind a cargo shed between other parcels from Hong Kong.

Examinations proved the tablets were in fact Viagra.

Sars spokesperson Sandile Memela says no arrests have been made and no one has come forward to claim the parcel.

“This has been handed over to Port Health Authority who will work with the cops to pursue the matter and it is only then that we’ll be in position to determine the identity of the people behind this.”

VIA - ewn.co,za

JOHANNESBURG - 2 CUSTOMS OFFICIALS ARRESTED FOR SMUGGLING COCAINE WORTH R2 MILLION

Two Customs officials from OR Tambo International Airport were arrested for smuggling cocaine worth R2 million, police said on Wednesday.

Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu said the suspects aged 29 and 35 allegedly smuggled an suitcase, which arrived on a flight from Brazil on Sunday afternoon. They then left it at the international arrival hall security passenger exit gate.

Unbeknownst to the customs officer members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) had them under observation.

“Hawks’ Organised Crime Unit members kept observation on the suspects and confronted them as they made their way to the exit gate,” Mulamu said.

The members opened and searched the suite case and approximately 6kg of cocaine worth an estimated R2 million was recovered wrapped with clothing.

Police said suspects will soon appear before the Kempton Park Magistrates Court for dealing in cocaine, corruption and defeating the ends of justice.

VIA - algoafm.co.za

JOHANNESBURG - 2 MEN ARRESTED AT OR TAMBO AIRPORT AFTER HAVING SWALLOWED COCAINE

On Sunday afternoon, 13 November 2016, members of the Trans-National Investigation Team based at the OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), intercepted and arrested two males, Ntombo Mambanzulu Mekuntima Benvindo, 44-years-old and Fernando Tomakiau, 41-years-old for allegedly dealing in drugs.

The two men were arrested after members of the team conducted a routine search on the two, who were travelling together. Upon searching the two men, they behaved suspiciously. X-rays revealed they both swallowed cocaine.

UNITED STATES - DENVER, COLORADO BECOMES FIRST US CITY TO ALLOW SOCIAL USE OF MARIJUANA

Denver has become the first city in the United States to legalise the social use of cannabis in businesses, including bars, yoga studios and art galleries.

The new ordinance was part of several marijuana measures put to voters in nine US states during last week's election.

Denver officials said on Tuesday that Initiative 300 had garnered enough votes to pass.

The measure allows private businesses in Colorado's capital to seek permits to create areas where customers can bring their own cannabis and consume it.

SOUTH AFRICA - RESEARCH SUGGESTS SA HAS HIGHEST RATE OF DRUG USE IN AFRICA

A study that was released this week reveals that close to 10% of South Africa’s children are abusing drugs before they turn 13.

The study, conducted by the nongovernmental organisation Soul City Institute for Social Justice, has also found that children’s drug of choice is marijuana, also known as cannabis or dagga. It goes on to warn of serious consequences in adulthood for these young users.

Bongiwe Ndondo, senior manager for research, monitoring and evaluations at the institute, said: