Pupil (16) arrested with date-rape drugs
A 16-year-old boy was arrested at his high school on the Berea last Friday after he was found with Rohypnol (date rape drug) hidden in his notebook.
TEACHERS and pupils at a local high school on the Berea have expressed shock after a schoolboy was arrested by Berea police on Friday for dealing in drugs.
Police were called to the school after teachers and security at the school noticed strange behaviour in three pupils. Captain Thomas Naidoo and Warrant Officer Deena Naidoo arrived at the school to investigate and the three pupils were found in a drugged condition.
Upon investigation, the police found the ill pupils had purchased “drugs” from a fellow pupil. The pupils revealed they had each contributed R10 towards the “tablets,” which the 16 year-old suspect allegedly crushed into three lines before rolling a R100 note and giving it to the pupils to snort.
Police recovered Rohypnol tablets, commonly known as the date-rape drug and more than R500 cash hidden in the suspect’s notebook.
According to the Foundation for a Drug Free World, Rohypnol is a tranquilizer about ten times more potent than Valium. The drug is available as a white or olive-green pill and is usually sold in the manufacturer’s bubble packaging. Users crush the pills and snort the powder, sprinkle it on marijuana and smoke it, dissolve it in a drink or inject it. The DFW website also states Rohypnol has been used to commit sexual assaults because it renders the victim incapable of resisting, giving it the reputation of a “date-rape” drug.
The School’s Governing Body chairman, MS Essa, told Berea Mail the incident and “very professional” manner in which the operation was run came as a shock. “We infiltrated this organised crime occurring at the school and thanks to the vigilant staff and security we managed to get the culprit.”
Essa said the school was taking a zero tolerance approach to any illegal activity at the school. “I really want to compliment Berea police for professionally handling this matter. We are trying to implement rehabilitation programmes at the school but we will not allow anyone to ruin the children’s lives. We hope that the source of the drugs is caught soon and prosecuted,” he added.
Captain TD Gumede, communications officer at Berea police encouraged teachers to be vigilant of illegal activity. “Teachers, if you suspect any illegal activity, contact us and we will always be available to deal with concerns.
“What is disturbing is that drug lords have found our learning institutions as an entry and supply point for drugs taking into account the drugs recovered from the boy and the amount of cash he had in his possession which was in excess of R500. These drug lords are destroying a nation and young children, they have no conscience,” he added.
