By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Gauteng Police led by commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela in the Operational Chanela have uncovered a drug manufacturing den in Queenswood, Pretoria.
“This house is the primary scene, and there is a secondary scene. Here is where they are cultivating, processing and so forth,” said Mawela who was flanked by senior Gauteng police officers including Gauteng’s deputy provincial police commissioner responsible for policing, Major General Tommy Mthombeni and Johannesburg District Commissioner, Major General Max Masha.
“At the secondary scene, that is where they are drying up and then they are distributing. What we found is what they call psycho-tropical mushroom, commonly known as the magic mushroom. It is prohibited in our country.”
According to Alcohol and Drug Foundation website, “magic mushrooms” are naturally occurring and are consumed for their hallucinogenic effects.
Mawela said the drug-manufacturing at the house was not “stumbled on” but it took meticulous investigations and dedication by the men and women in blue.
“It is intelligence led, they (police) have been working on it. There is a search warrant for this. Today they executed the search warrant on a good day where we are doing this Shanela Operation and they found all these things,” he said.
The value of the drugs found (magic mushrooms) is still yet to be determined.
The provincial police commissioner said a suspect has been identified and arrested in connection with the Queenswood house.
Mawela also said at least nine people have been arrested in the anti-crime blitz which rocked infamous crime-riddled areas including Sunnyside and the Pretoria CBD.
Meanwhile KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, has commended the successful operation by a multi-disciplinary team of police intelligence and border agents at the Port of Durban which has taken millions of rand worth of drugs off the street.
Police seized drugs valued at R150 million packed in meat boxes at the Durban Harbour on Monday night.
According to the national police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, a multi-disciplinary team intercepted and inspected a container at a cold storage facility and found 433 blocks of cocaine disguised in meat boxes. The container was en route from Brazil.
The Premier has commended the dedicated law enforcement officials for their outstanding efforts.
“This operation again emphasises the value of collaboration with our international counterparts on intelligence across our borders and oceans. Just this one operation has removed from our streets illicit drugs valued at an estimated R150 million.
“It comes just two months after another intelligence driven operation resulted in the discovery of 200 blocks of cocaine with an estimated value of R70 million hidden in 20 litre paint containers at the Durban Harbour, “the Premier said.
The Premier commended the cooperation of law enforcement agencies for their dedication to public safety and justice and their ceaseless efforts at making our province and country safe.