Law enforcement unit nabs three in dagga and Mandrax bust

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A sting operation popularly known as "Operation Fiela"  carried out by a multi-sectoral law-enforcement unit from the Eastern Cape on the weekend has uncovered dagga and mandrax worth more than R2.6-million in Mbizana and KwaBhaca (formerly Mount Frere).

The operation carried out on Friday and Saturday involved police's crime prevention members, the public order police unit from Lusikisiki, provincial traffic members, department of home affairs officials, tactical response team members from East London and environmental affairs officials.

KwaBhaca police spokeswoman Captain Edith Mjoko said a 28-year-old man had been arrested on Friday afternoon in the town of KwaBhaca during a stop and search operation.

"When his backpack  was searched, a stash of 28 mandrax pills worth R5000 was found and he was arrested immediately," she said.

Less than an hour later, a 34-year-old man was arrested inside a bus en route to Cape Town.This was after police conducted a search on the bus as part of a roadblock.

Mjoko said one of the passengers had alerted the police that there was someone carrying dagga inside the bus.

"The suspect was found to be carrying parcels containing dagga with an estimated street value of about R10000."

Meanwhile on Saturday, a 48-year-old woman was arrested in Qungebe village in Mbizana after police received a tip-off that she had dagga in her house. A raid in her home later uncovered several bags of dagga worth around R140 000.

Moments later, while reacting to another tip-off, police stumbled upon heaps of bags of dagga inside another village home in Qungebe.

"There was no one inside as it seems that the owners had run away before the police could arrive," she added.

The dagga which was stashed inside 50kg bags was valued at R2.5-million, according to Mjoko.

The suspects are appearing in court in Mbizana and KwaBhaca on charges of dealing in dagga and dealing in drugs today.

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