Update: ‘Drugs’ baby was kidnapped
A 23-year-old woman was arrested in Brakpan, last week, after drugs were found concealed on a three-month-old baby girl.
The woman was thought to be the infant’s mother, but it was later discovered that the child had, in fact, been kidnapped earlier this year.
Members of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department’s Equestrian Unit made the shocking discovery at an address along Wenden Avenue, on Friday morning.
After receiving information about drugs being sold on the property, members arrived and conducted a thorough search.
While no drugs were found at the address, the officers became suspicious of the woman’s behaviour when she refused to let anyone near the baby.
The little girl was taken from the woman and 12 packets of white powder — suspected to be cocaine — were found in the baby’s nappy.
More packets were found hidden under the infant’s arms, and the woman was arrested.
“After further investigation, it was found that the baby was kidnapped from her biological mother, in Dunnottar, in January,” said Capt Joep Joubert, spokesperson for the Brakpan Police Station commander.
“It is alleged that the mother was walking home from church when two men in an unknown vehicle stopped next to her.
“They got out and grabbed the baby from her back, got back into the vehicle and sped away.”
Joubert told the Herald that the men then allegedly gave the baby to the woman in Wenden Avenue.
“The case number of the kidnapping was obtained and the baby has been returned to her biological mother,” he said.
The woman will appear in court soon, on charges of kidnapping and being in possession of drugs.
It is believed that another suspect has since been arrested in connection with the kidnapping.
“The investigation is on-going,” added Joubert.
