Grade 7 girl, two other minors nabbed in Police raids on drug-peddling bases
In a saddening scenario that reflects on the worrisome magnitudes to which the impact of drug and substance abuse have negatively impacted on the lives of Zimbabweans, several people including three minors, were arrested in police raids conducted in Bulawayo yesterday.
These include a 12-year-old Grade 7 pupil at a city school, a 14-year-old boy who is in Form Two and an 18-year-old female in Form Three.
The police raids were spearheaded by by crack teams from the police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and Vehicle Theft Squad (VTS) in Bulawayo’s western neighborhoods.
Reports from the country’s second capital suggested that the juveniles were among those who were caught using illicit drugs and smoking dagga at illegal drug-peddling bases In the city.
The state media reported that the first raid was conducted in Entumbane and Njube on Tuesday while more suspects were nabbed in the city centre yesterday.
These two raids yielded a huge haul of Broncleer cough syrup, an over-the-counter cough medicine that is abused by drug users, marijuana and crystal met.
These drugs were seized at several houses in the western areas and streets, per state media.
A security guard employed by a local security company, whose house was being used for drug initiation parties for school children as young as 12 years old.
It is also understood that this raid was precipitated by information supplied to police by members of the community and police intelligence.
The suspects were yesterday paraded with the drugs at Bulawayo Central Police Station.
Bulawayo provincial acting police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, was quotted as saying that one of the suspects had intimidated residents in Entumbane by claiming that he was untouchable and police could not arrest him.
“One suspect, Elliot Ndlovu, aged 24, was telling residents of Entumbane that police feared him and would not do anything to him as he was untouchable.
“ZRP would like to put it on record that there is no one above the law,” Asst Insp Msebele said.
“CID Bulawayo went on to conduct a raid in Entumbane and Njube suburbs and arrested six suspects after they were found in possession of drugs ranging from crystal meth and dagga.
“Others were also arrested for using drugs and illegal substances such as Broncleer cough syrup.”
The operation moved to the central business district (CBD) yesterday where more suspects were nabbed for dealing and using drugs.
“Today (yesterday) in the CBD in streets near Pick and Pay Hyper, police arrested several suspects for peddling drugs. We would like to thank the public for continuing to supply the police with information that may lead to the arrest of individuals who deal in drugs,” said Asst Insp Msebele.
