HERITAGE Day celebrations were dampened yesterday, when a 39-year-old man was arrested for possession of drugs in Greenwood Park.
The arrest was made after the Durban Flying Squad Narcotics Task Team received a tip-off that the suspect would be delivering narcotics to someone on North Coast Road, opposite the Post Office.
Provincial police spokesman, Captain Thulani Zwane, said, “The members proceeded to the identified place and held observation until the suspect arrived. The members approached the suspect and he was found in possession of rock cocaine to the street value of more than R2 250. The suspect was arrested and charged with possession,” he said.
Greenwood Park Community Policing Forum’s chairman, Robin Candy, said that narcotics was a serious problem not only in the Greenwood Park area, but all over. He believes that active policing was necessary to curb the issue. “Narcotics required a lot of research and police vigilance,” he said.
Candy added that even though there were numerous people arrested for drug possession, the police efforts were in vain. “The courts have let us down, as they often hand down only suspended sentences. Therefore there is no deterrent. It is also not enough to arrest the small guys, they need to target the kingpins,” he added.
However, Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni, remained optimistic regarding the fight against the sale of drugs, and encouraged the members of the community to work closely with the police in their fight reporting drug dealers and suspicious activity. “Together we can make a difference in our society by getting rid of drugs in the streets,” she said.
The suspect was expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court today, 25 September.
