By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

A 29-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested for being in possession of mandrax. Mopeli Ramachakela was arrested by the Schweizer- Reneke police and Vryburg K9 members during a crime prevention operation on 26 January 2022.

North West police spokesperson in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region, Sgt Tryphosa van Rooyen said the aim of the operation was to combat drug abuse. She said during the operation, police on patrol in Migdol, saw a suspicious looking male carrying a plastic bag and approached him.

“When he saw the police approaching him, he threw the bag down and started running. This suspect was caught and the police found substances suspected to be drugs in the bag during the search.

“The drugs that were found on the suspect are suspected to be 39 Mandrax tablets, tik, nyaope and dagga with an estimated street value of R3 654. The accused briefly appeared at the Schweizer Reneke Magistrate’s Court on 27 January 2022,” she said.

Van Rooyen said Ramachakela was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on February 1 2022 for a formal bail application.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, van Rooyen said two Nigerians were arrested during another K9 operation that was conducted in Christiana on 28 January 2022. 

“More suspects were arrested during stop and search operations conducted.  Two Nigerians aged 45 and 33 respectively, were stopped and searched.

“Upon searching them, the police found the first suspect in possession of 100 grams of suspected  methamphetamine (crystalmeth) with an estimated street value of R24 000 and 50 grams of suspected methamphetamine (crystalmeth) with a street value of R 14 000 on the second suspect,” she said.

Van Rooyen said both suspects were arrested and will appear in the Christiana Magistrate’s Court on 1 February 2022 facing charges of possession of dependence producing substances(crystalmeth). 

The acting District Police Commissioner, Brigadier Tshenolo Tlotleng expressed his appreciation toward members of Vryburg K9 and Visible Policing who portray such commitment towards their duties and applauded them for their sterling work in ensuring that all communities within the region are being rid of the drugs that are destroying young lives.

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