Police spokesperson, Motansti Makhele, says a 32-year-old man was arrested at Willows in Bloemfontein in the early morning hours, for being in possession of Mandrax tablets, KAT and an undisclosed amount of cash.

He adds that in a separate incident, another tip-off led the police to a house in Turflaagte where a 35-year-old man was arrested after he was found with dagga, KAT, Mandrax tablets and an undisclosed amount of cash. He says this is part of the police’s Safer Festive Season Operation, under the theme “Zizo-jika I-zi-nto”(Things Will Turn Around), that continues to attempt to turn the tide against crime in Bloemfontein. Makhele says drugs valued at more than R150 000 were seized during the arrests of these two and they are both expected to soon appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on the charges of dealing in drugs.

Makhele says the first suspect, who was arrested at a flat in King Edward Road, Willows, is currently on bail for a similar offence which he committed in August 2019. Members from the Cross Border and Freight Unit in Port Elizabeth and the Bloemfontein K9 Unit executed the two arrests after following crime intelligence-led information. Meanwhile, the Provincial Commissioner, Moeketsi Sempe, said the arrests and seizure of the drugs is an intensified effort with a multi-disciplinary approach to bring to a halt the scourge of drugs in the Park Road and Mangaung areas. “These arrests also serve as a warning to those who smuggle drugs in our province, that we will bring their operations to a halt as these drugs are a contributing factor to a number of crimes committed,” Sempe adds.

OFM News