INTELLIGENCE-DRIVEN OPERATION LED POLICE TO ARREST FIVE SUSPECTS ON DRUG RELATED ALLEGATIONS AND CONFISCATION OF CONTRABAND WORTH ABOUT R500 000
NELSPRUIT – An Intelligence-Driven Operation has led to police in Mpumalanga arresting five suspects in two separate incidents at Ermelo and Lydenburg, respectively. During these operations which were conducted on Wednesday, 21 July 2021 and Friday, 23 July 2021, police confiscated drugs to a combined estimated value of about R500 000.
According to the report, in the first incident; members received information about suspected illegal drug activities carried out at a certain house in Ermelo. It was further alleged that the suspects trafficked the drugs using a silver VW Polo Vivo.
Members from Ermelo K9 Unit together with their counterparts from Standerton K9 Unit then coordinated their resources to act collectively and operationalised the information gathered. On Friday, 23 July 2021, they followed the leads and spotted the identified house which matched the description as given. Upon their arrival at the place, the police formations found three people busy packaging something suspicious inside the house.
They then searched them and combed the house, resulting in more than 580 Heroin sachets discovered in the routine. Police further found an undisclosed amount of cash, which suggests that they (suspects) were involved in drug dealing. The three suspects, aged between 28 and 38 who are Nigerian Nationals were immediately arrested and charged accordingly. One of the suspects is a female and the trio is expected to appear before the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 26 July 2021.
Meanwhile, members from the Lydenburg K9 Unit also conducted an Intelligence-Driven Operation where they intercepted suspects who were in a planned mission to traffic bags of dagga using a Ford Ranger bakkie.
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This operation was carried out on Wednesday, 21 July 2021 too at which police noticed and swooped down upon the mentioned bakkie which had two occupants. The astute members ordered the driver of the vehicle to halt the bakkie. This was followed by a thorough search where nine bags with dagga were found culminating in the driver and his crew being swiftly arrested. They both appeared before the Mashishing Magistrate Court on Thursday, 22 July 2021 where they were remanded in custody. Pat Mngomezulu, aged 36 and Michael Molala, aged 33, is expected at the same court next Thursday, 29 July 2021.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela has appreciated the efforts by members for their resilience in ridding the communities of drugs. “It is high time we claim back the streets from the hands of drug dealers and criminal elements. The call made by our good citizens to decisively deal with drugs in the community has been heard. We are acting with speed to close all the nets for trading in illegal drugs within the society. The public should continue to entrust us with valuable information as they can witness the positive results thereof. ” said General Manamela.
