A drug dealer, who preferred not to be named, said unemployment and friends who were in the drug business were some of the factors that led him into drug dealing.
This was said when the North Eastern Tribune interviewed the man on a bench in Johannesburg. A passerby would never guess what he does for a living as he looks like an ordinary man – until you hear his story.
The man moved to South Africa after his friends told him about their successes in Johannesburg. The dealer told North Eastern Tribune that when he moved to the city, his intention was always to sell drugs.
The man’s appearance is normal, with a solid physique and his face shadowed by a cap, allowing him to blend in. He spoke with absolute confidence and a total lack of fear.
The man agreed to be interviewed by North Eastern Tribune on condition that his identity was never revealed. He did not want his photo taken and would not be recorded, but he was happy to tell the community what life is like when you are a kingpin in a drug syndicate. “This is an illegal business, you kill or be killed, so it doesn’t make it an easy business.”
He explained how he got hold of the drugs he sells in Johannesburg. “We buy it from people who import it, and sometimes we manufacture it.”
He explained that he does not deal with clients directly anymore – unless it is a big order that is worth his while. His runners buy stock from him and, of course, he makes a profit from their sales.
He told North Eastern Tribune that drug dealing and manufacturing is a ‘do or die’ business and one has to have guts to do it. “Death and police are a serious threat in our business, but if you consistently think about it, you’ll never make money.”
He said he has built up his clientele over the years by giving addicts samples. “You first have to give an addict a couple of samples and he goes on to tell his fellow addicts how good the stuff is.” His runners still use this practice.
His business cannot work on credit and if anyone owes him money, ‘the end result is death’. “If you run away with my money or my stuff, I track you down, and the punishment is death by getting shot or stabbed.”
He said he would never force someone to take drugs and although there is a loss in revenue when addicts get clean, he claimed that he was actually happy when they turned their lives around and stopped using.
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Tell us what you would do if you were unemployed and desperate? How far would you go? Tell the team your views on this story by sending a WhatsApp to 079 439 5345 and comment including the #NETdrugs.
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