SEVEN DRUG DEALERS NABBED

Photo: Hawks making an arrest

Supplied

By: Neo Ntsele

A total of seven suspects aged between 19 and 37 were arrested in Welkom and Viljoenskroon for alleged dealing in drugs and possession of drugs.

They were raided on Thursday 27, by a multi-disciplinary team comprising Serious Organised Crime Investigation detectives of the Hawks, Crime Intelligence, Tactical Response Team, K9, and the Local Criminal Record Center.

The suspects made a brief first time appearance in court on Friday 28.

This is following the successful conclusion of Hawks operations dubbed Duncan in Welkom and Dlumina in Viljoenskroon.

Operation Duncan was initiated in September 2023 in response to intelligence about foreign nationals peddling drugs in Welkom.

Similarly, Operation Dlumina, established in August 2022, sought to eliminate drugs in Viljoenskroon by targeting organised drug dealers.

Drugs including mandrax, cocaine, and crystal meth were recovered during numerous mock transactions.

Acting Free State Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime (Hawks), Brigadier Paulus Touch Mbongo has praised everyone involved in the operations for their patient hard work.

"A drug syndicate has been untangled. We regard cutting the supply of drugs to young people in the Goldfields as a huge success," said Brigadier Mbongo.