R15 000 drug bust on Newport Avenue
The Durban North SAPS said the drugs were being bought by mainly young boys in the area.
A SECURITY guard has been arrested after he was found with 71 packets of dagga worth an estimated street value of R15 300 in Glenashley on Wednesday afternoon. According to Lt Raymond Deokaran, spokesman for the Durban North SAPS, information from the eThekwini outer north crime intelligence team lead to the arrest of the man, who was also found in possession of a 9mm pistol, on Newport Avenue.
“We have received numerous complaints about drug dealing in the area, particularly around Newport Avenue. When our officers entered the premises, the guard seemed to know why they were there. He handed over a black bag with the 71 packets, which weighed 473.5 grams. While our officers were there, several cars stopped outside the building that he was dealing the drugs from, but when they saw our members they drove off.
“He would not give up his contact and said he was only dealing. Our crime intelligence unit has been working undercover on this case for a while and I’m extremely proud of the arrest today. We’ve identified this dealer who supplies upmarket clients, especially young guys from the area. This isn’t just any dagga found on the streets, we believe it’s being grown across the border and being packaged and sold in the area,” he said.
Chairman of the Durban North/Umhlanga CPF, Haden Searles, also praised the officers and said this had been a community-driven operation.
“Time and time again we’ve had people in the flats opposite the building complain that they see drug deals openly take place. I’m glad crime intelligence has come on board because this is a huge arrest for the area. This is a quality cut marijuana, it has a high THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) component, which is the primary ingredient in marijuana responsible for the ‘high’. Smoking marijuana with such a high percentage of THC can even lead to a state of psychosis,” Searles said.
