Pretoria- Eight men have been arrested in Groblersdal and
Marble Hall for alleged drug dealing and possession of unlicensed firearms, the
Hawks said on Friday.
The arrests followed a year-long investigation and numerous
drug-related complaints from residents of the two Mpumalanga towns, Hawks
spokesperson Lieutenant Robert Netshiunda said.
The investigation included undercover police who masqueraded
as potential clients and bought drugs, mostly nyaope, from dealers. Fourteen
transactions amounting to over R50 000 were conducted before they were arrested
on Friday.
Police raided the alleged kingpin's Groblersdal house and
business and confiscated guns and money. In his house they found R70 000 in
cash, a police-issue bulletproof vest, a .303 rifle with ammunition, and
ammunition for an AK-47 rifle.
In the storeroom of his business they found R29 000 in cash,
an R1 rifle, AK-47 ammunition, and dagga.
A total of four firearms, two vehicles and five pieces of
gold were confiscated. Four of those arrested were Nigerian and one was
Portuguese. They were aged between 25 and 49.
All eight were expected to appear in the Marble Hall
Periodical Court and Groblersdal Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
They would face charges of drug dealing, possession of
unlicensed firearms, possession of illegal ammunition, and illegal possession
of gold.
(Photos supplied by the Hawks)
