Members of the Provincial Organised Crime Unit have arrested two undocumented foreign nationals for possessing and dealing in drugs worth millions of rand in two separate incidents on Tuesday.
Detailing the two incidents, KwaZulu-Natal provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said police were conducting an operation when they gathered intelligence about a man who was selling drugs. The information was immediately operationalised.
He said the suspect was spotted in Umbilo and upon searching his vehicle, police found 900 heroin capsules.
“Follow-up investigations led the police to the suspect’s house on Sphiwe Zuma Avenue in Umbilo where more heroin capsules and powder were found,” he said, adding that the drugs were estimated to have a street value of R2 million.
Netshiunda said the 34-year-old suspect was arrested and charged with possessing and dealing in drugs as well as being in the country illegally.
In a separate incident, Netshiunda said a 38-year-old illegal immigrant was arrested after he was found in possession of heroin powder in Berea.
He said the suspect was put under surveillance following his suspected involvement in narcotics-related activities.
“Further investigations pointed to his apartment on Riley Road in Essenwood where a search was conducted, leading to the recovery of more heroin powder worth a street value of approximately R1 million,” he said.
Both suspects are due to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court.
“The Mercury” on Tuesday reported that in a specialised operation led by provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and the KwaZulu-Natal police, more than 123 undocumented foreign nationals were taken into custody, and 117 rounds of ammunition and R4.1 million’s worth of counterfeit US dollars were impounded in Durban.
According to the report, during the operation, six buildings were raided in efforts to tackle issues related to hijacked buildings, illegal firearms and the presence of undocumented foreigners.
The reclaiming of hijacked buildings is part of a larger effort to rejuvenate the city and make it more attractive to investors, according to eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba. He noted that 76 derelict buildings had been identified. Some had been hijacked, abandoned or used as hideouts for illegal activities.
@themercurysa KwaZulu Natal police led by the provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi conducted a massive raid in Point, Durban. #raid #police #kwazulunatal #themercury #ethekwinimunicipality #southafrica ♬ original sound - TheMercurySA
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