Drug-dealing granny busted..found with $70,000 mbanje
By Vimbai Chinembiri
BULAWAYO – A 70-YEAR-OLD drug-pushing grandmother from Bulawayo’s Gwabalanda suburb was yesterday arrested after being found with nearly 70kg of mbanje with a street value of close to $70,000.
Josephine Sithole was caught after a routine operation by police during the festive season to reduce crime related to drug abuse. The police initially carried out ground investigations after receiving reports that Sithole was selling drugs.
They then brought sniffer dogs to her house.
Drug dog Sting, one of the police dogs, was used to locate the drug that was hidden in her ensuite-toilet.
Police spokesperson for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo, said the mbanje haul was a result of strategic police deployment to curb drug related disturbances during the festive season.
“Knowing that during this season there would be disturbances because of the excitement and abuse of dagga, we decided to launch investigations to stop crime.
“Consequently after searching, we arrested a 70-year-old woman from Gwabalanda who had 69,6 kilogrammes of dagga worth $69,600.”
Inspector Moyo said the police would not rest until sanity was restored.
“We will not rest until sanity returns. Youngsters who are the largest consumers of dagga become irresponsible and cause disturbances on our roads and also end up committing crime such as theft,” Insp Moyo said.
Insp Moyo also appealed to the public to provide information that would lead to the arrest of drug dealers.
On Christmas Eve, a homeless Bulawayo man who led everyone to believe he was mentally unstable, was arrested for growing a thriving mbanje garden at Westgate near Sizinda suburb.
Hubert Ndebele, 45, a well-known vagrant in the city, was arrested following a raid by police officers from the Drugs and Narcotics section.
About 65 marijuana plants, measuring between 20 centimetres and 150 centimetres, were recovered in the swoop.
Police also impounded processed dagga weighing about 1,7 kilogrammes with an estimated street value of $1,700, from a makeshift drying “factory.”
After the arrest, Insp Moyo said police in Bulawayo were determined to put an end to substance abuse.
He said in Bulawayo, the detection rate for use of drugs is almost always 100 percent.
“We take all aspects of crime seriously. We carry out regular awareness campaigns at churches, schools, youth gatherings and residential areas. We are out to put a stop to drugs in our city,” said Insp Moyo.
He said substance abuse was rife, especially among the youth.
“Problem areas where youths get drugs include some leading night clubs. We are warning night clubs owners that if anyone is arrested with drugs on their premises, they will also face arrest. We always aim at finding and shutting down the source of drugs rather than just arresting the users,” said the police spokesperson. The Chronicle
