BULAWAYO, Aug. 3 (NewsDay Live) – Bulawayo police have arrested two Tshabalala suburb residents for allegedly dealing in dangerous drugs and recovered large quantities of cannabis and cough syrup in separate weekend operations, with the seized drugs valued at more than US$26,000.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Drugs and Narcotics Unit arrested Annet Sebele (38) and Fortune Tshabalala (42) following a tip-off from members of the public.
Police received information on August 1 that Sebele was allegedly operating a drug distribution business from her home.
“Detectives proceeded to the house and arrested the suspect, recovering four cobs of dagga weighing 1.8 kilogrammes with a street value of ZiG28,000. The dagga was stashed in a satchel she was carrying, and several empty sachets suggesting the drugs were being prepared for distribution were also recovered,” Msebele said.
During questioning, Sebele allegedly implicated Tshabalala, who was later arrested at a nearby house believed to have been used as a storage facility.
In a separate operation in Newton West during the early hours of August 2, detectives recovered about 30 kilogrammes of dagga and thousands of bottles of BronCleer cough syrup with a combined street value of US$26,429.
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Msebele said detectives acted on information that dangerous drugs were being stored at a house in the suburb.
“The suspects immediately drove into the yard and locked the gate before abandoning the vehicle, jumping over the perimeter wall and fleeing into nearby bushland,” she said.
A search of the house led to the recovery of 36 cobs of dagga weighing about 30 kilogrammes, 58 boxes each containing 50 bottles of 100ml BronCleer cough syrup, as well as a further 447 loose 100ml bottles hidden in a spare bedroom.
No arrests had been made in connection with the Newton West case by the time police issued the statement, with investigations continuing to identify and apprehend the suspects.
Msebele commended members of the public for providing information that led to the arrests and seizures and urged communities to continue reporting drug-related activities.
“We also warn those unlawfully dealing in dangerous drugs that the law will take its course without fear or favour,” she said.