Police in KwaZulu-Natal have arrested five suspects, aged between 22 and 41, in a major drug operation across eThekwini.
The Provincial Organised Crime Narcotics and Organised Crime Threat Unit launched a coordinated raid on Thursday, targeting four shops suspected of selling cannabis in Umbilo, Amanzimtoti, Brighton Beach, and Montclair.
“On Thursday morning, the team executed the search warrant simultaneously on all targeted premises,” said South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza.
The main suspect was apprehended at a separate location before officers recovered more cannabis at his Yellowwood Park residence.
Authorities estimate the street value of the seized drugs at R1.3 million.
All five suspects have been charged with dealing in drugs and are due to appear at the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
Durban’s crackdown on illicit trade and drug trafficking ramped up this week, as metro police and partner agencies conducted coordinated raids that led to multiple arrests and the seizure of contraband worth over R600,000, including large quantities of illegal cigarettes and narcotics.
The operations, carried out on Monday, targeted illegal activity on the Bluff and led to the arrest of a foreign national in Umbilo linked to a major drug syndicate.
“The Durban Metro Police Service will continue working with partner agencies to clamp down on illicit trade, ensure compliance with municipal by-laws, and protect communities from illegal activities within the city,” the Metro Police said earlier this week.
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