A MASSIVE drug bust near the popular Wembley Roadhouse in Athlone left mense geskok after police caught five suspects with a vrag mandrax pille and a sak vol kroon.
The operation went down on Wednesday, when members of the Maitland Flying Squad followed up on a tip-off about possible drug dealing in the area.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk explained: “Upon their [the Flying Squad’s] arrival at the mentioned address, they found three vehicles including a white Mercedes Benz, a white Renault and a white Hyundai in the parking area.
“The members observed the occupants and noticed that the one suspect took a black bag out of the one vehicle [and then] putting it into his vehicle.
“They immediately approached the vehicles and two of the suspects attempted to walk away but were apprehended.
“The members searched all the vehicles and found in the one vehicle 3 000 mandrax tablets and in the other an undisclosed amount of cash believed to be the proceeds of crime.”
However, it didn’t stop there. Members followed more leads to a location in Crawford, where they found a further 13 000 mandrax pille and an undisclosed amount of schedule one medicine.
The bust led to the arrest of a 58-year-old vrou and four manne between the ages of 48 and 60, who are now facing charges of dealing in drugs.
Van Wyk added: “The drugs and three vehicles were handed in as exhibits at Athlone SAPS. Their cellular telephones were taken in for processing and further investigation.”
Athlone Community Policing Forum (CPF) Chairperson Vernon Piedt told the Daily Voice: “Clearly it could be that these are people who do not live in the area, because if they did they would’ve gone to the particular houses where the dealings happen.
“It is a major breakthrough as a community as these are the things that we have been fighting against all our life. The CPF are happy that these people were arrested and the important thing is that these drugs are off the street.”
He added that pakkies of drugs are sold at one or two places in the area, however, this helse bust left the community speechless.
Ward Councillor Aslam Cassiem told the Daily Voice that the City is invested in getting CCTV cameras on very important roads around that area and also provide the necessary resources to the neighbourhood watch.
Cassiem added: “That is how we generally speak to the safety and security aspect of the area. We commend all the law enforcement agencies for what they have done.”
