Drug bust nets five in Bloem

2003-11-01 10:33

Bloemfontein - Five men including four Nigerians were arrested and a quantity of drugs worth R100 000 confiscated in the Bloemfontein area since Friday night, Free State police said on Saturday.

Inspector Loraine Kalp said the men between the ages of 29 and 35 were arrested at their respective homes in Bloemfontein.

Kalp said the sting followed months of investigations concerning drug dealing in the town.

"The arrests emanated from an intensive undercover operation between the crime Intelligence Gathering and Organised Crime units in the area. The investigation spread over a period of 15 months following the identification of drug dealing in night-clubs in Bloemfontein."

She said controlled purchases were arranged in the course of the investigations to ensure successful convictions.

During this weekend's operation police confiscated 808 Ecstasy tablets, 86 grams of cocaine, 18-and-a-half grams of Thai whites, and six microdots (LSD).

In a follow-up operation in the early hours of Saturday morning another 16 people were arrested in raids on various night-clubs in the area.

Kalp said the police were heartened by the outcome of the lengthy investigation.

"The operation is seen as a success regarding the fact that a syndicate leader with his runners are being taken out of the drug scene."

All those arrested will appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrates' Court on Monday.

- SAPA