Swazi national arrested for dagga possession
A 43-year-old Swazi man recently found in possession of dagga valued at a street value of R700 000 was charged with dealing in dagga.
EKULINDENI – A 43-year-old Swazi man recently found in possession of dagga valued at a street value of R700 000 was charged with dealing in dagga.
The suspect, Mr Solomon Maziya was arrested after the local police received information from law-abiding citizens about a charcoal- coloured Mazda light delivery vehicle which was spotted loaded with bags of dagga at Enhlaba Trust, a few kilometres from Ekulindeni Police Station.
Constables Jabulani Thomo and Joyce Masilela quickly responded on the tip-off, rushed to the scene and immediately noticed a vehicle fitting the description.
“The vehicle was found parked near a local shop and officials searched it. The suspect who was found near the vehicle alleged that he was an occupant and that the driver had fled the scene, leaving the car locked.
He confessed that he and the driver were from Siteki in Swaziland, had smuggled the dagga through the illegal entry ports and were going to take it to Barberton to sell,” explained Const Solly Mbokane, the local police spokesperson.
Mbokane added that the dagga was compressed in 18 refuse bags and weighed 178 kilograms. According to the police, the suspect tried to solicit the officials with a bribe of R5 000 to evade arrest but the offer was turned down and he was nabbed on the spot.
“His accomplice is still at large and it is suspected that he might have crossed the border back in to Swaziland,” added Mbokane.
Maziya briefly appeared in the Eerstehoek Magistrate’s Court on April 15 and was remanded in custody. This newspaper learnt that dagga smuggling was problematic in areas around of Ekulindeni as it was close to the Swazi border. “We will ensure that offenders of this nature are brought to book no matter what,” he adds.
The local station commander, Capt Patrick Shabangu was pleased with the manner in which the officers had acted.
“I am happy to have officers that remain devoted to their purpose and committed to their military convictions, who can look beyond the borders of bribes and rather honour the police code of conduct,” he said.
