This is according to the South African Police Services' (SAPS) spokesperson, Mmako Mophiring, who says the suspects appeared before the Bethlehem Magistrate's Court on Monday 22 August 2022, and they are each facing a charge of dealing in dagga.

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He explains community members raised concerns regarding people allegedly selling drugs in the township, which the Bethlehem Crime Intelligence, Thabo Mofutsanyana District Crime Combating Unit, and Bohlokong Police Station jointly responded to on Friday 19 August 2022.

He further adds a few houses were identified and searched, where four suspects were arrested for dealing in dagga and cash amounts and dagga were seized.

The team was then directed to another suspicious house.

 “Apparently, at a specific house, the team found a built-in tuck shop inside the house. Upon searching the house, they found a scale, mask, peanuts and chocolate cookies and candies probably mixed with dagga and an unknown drug.

“The items are priced at a high street value to customers. The suspect already packaged the items and possess large quantities of dagga and cash. The 36-year-old was also arrested and all exhibits confiscated for further analysis,” Mophiring says in a media statement.

He also called on parents to be extra cautious about their children buying expensive cookies and candies, to make sure they are healthy and not mixed with drugs.

“Let's be alert and make sure they aren't buying drugs or dagga,” concludes Mophiring.

The five suspects are due in court again on 28 September 2022.

OFM News/Mpho Mohapi