News / National
Granny (70) nabbed over $70 000 mbanje
01 Jan 2014 at 02:27hrs | Views
 nabbed over $70 000 mbanje.jpg)
POLICE in Bulawayo have arrested a 70-year-old woman from Gwabalanda suburb for possessing about 70kg of mbanje with a street value of almost $70 000.
Josephine Sithole, who had hidden the mbanje in a toilet at her home, was allegedly selling it to residents in the suburb.
Police shutdown her business in a routine operation during the festive season to stop crime related to drug abuse.
They acted on information that she was a supplier of the drug.
There was drama when police pounced with sniffer dogs
The mbanje was found by the dogs hidden in her ensuite-toilet.
The Police spokesperson for Bulawayo metropolitan province, Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo confirmed Sithole's arrest yesterday.
He said police in the city were determined to weed out drug abuse.
"Knowing that during this season there would be disturbances because of the excitement and abuse of dagga we decided to launch investigations to stop crime. Consequently after searching we arrested a 70 year old woman from Gwabalanda who had 69,6kilograms of dagga worth $69, 600."
"We will not rest until sanity returns. Youngsters are the largest consumers of dagga and they become irresponsible and cause disturbances on our roads and also end up committing crime such as theft after using the drug," Insp Moyo said.
Insp Moyo also appealed to the public to provide information that would lead to the arrest of drug dealers.
Last week a Bulawayo vagrant was arrested for growing mbanje in a garden at Westgate near Sizinda suburb, under the same operation.
Hubert Ndebele, 45, a well-known vagrant in the city was arrested following a raid by police officers from the Drugs and Narcotics section. About 65 marijuana plants, measuring between 20 centimetres and 150 centimetres were recovered in the swoop.
Police also impounded processed dagga weighing about 1,7 kilogrammes, with an estimated street value of $1 700.
Inspector Moyo said in Bulawayo, the detection rate for use of drugs is almost always 100 percent.
"We take all aspects of crime seriously. We carry out regular awareness campaigns at churches, schools, youth gatherings and residential areas. We are out to put a stop to drugs in our city," said Insp Moyo.
He said substance abuse was rife, especially among the youth.
"Problem areas where youths get drugs include some leading night clubs. We are warning night clubs owners that if anyone is arrested with drugs on their premises, they will also face arrest. We always aim at finding and shutting down the source of drugs rather than just arresting the users," he said
Josephine Sithole, who had hidden the mbanje in a toilet at her home, was allegedly selling it to residents in the suburb.
Police shutdown her business in a routine operation during the festive season to stop crime related to drug abuse.
They acted on information that she was a supplier of the drug.
There was drama when police pounced with sniffer dogs
The mbanje was found by the dogs hidden in her ensuite-toilet.
The Police spokesperson for Bulawayo metropolitan province, Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo confirmed Sithole's arrest yesterday.
He said police in the city were determined to weed out drug abuse.
"Knowing that during this season there would be disturbances because of the excitement and abuse of dagga we decided to launch investigations to stop crime. Consequently after searching we arrested a 70 year old woman from Gwabalanda who had 69,6kilograms of dagga worth $69, 600."
"We will not rest until sanity returns. Youngsters are the largest consumers of dagga and they become irresponsible and cause disturbances on our roads and also end up committing crime such as theft after using the drug," Insp Moyo said.
Insp Moyo also appealed to the public to provide information that would lead to the arrest of drug dealers.
Last week a Bulawayo vagrant was arrested for growing mbanje in a garden at Westgate near Sizinda suburb, under the same operation.
Hubert Ndebele, 45, a well-known vagrant in the city was arrested following a raid by police officers from the Drugs and Narcotics section. About 65 marijuana plants, measuring between 20 centimetres and 150 centimetres were recovered in the swoop.
Police also impounded processed dagga weighing about 1,7 kilogrammes, with an estimated street value of $1 700.
Inspector Moyo said in Bulawayo, the detection rate for use of drugs is almost always 100 percent.
"We take all aspects of crime seriously. We carry out regular awareness campaigns at churches, schools, youth gatherings and residential areas. We are out to put a stop to drugs in our city," said Insp Moyo.
He said substance abuse was rife, especially among the youth.
"Problem areas where youths get drugs include some leading night clubs. We are warning night clubs owners that if anyone is arrested with drugs on their premises, they will also face arrest. We always aim at finding and shutting down the source of drugs rather than just arresting the users," he said
Source - Byo24News
