Drug raid yields results

THE school drug problem was again highlighted during police raids last week when substances were recovered in at least three city schools.

Seven police vehicles were dispersed to Old Mill High School where police conducted a surprise raid and reportedly confiscated dagga from pupils.

In eSikhaleni, love potions, lucky charm mixtures, weapons as well as cigarettes and dagga were found on pupils during a random search at two high schools.

The raids, headed by members of the Community Safety Patrol, began at Mdlamfe High School on Monday morning, where officials also confiscated illegal objects, including knives.

On Tuesday they proceeded to Ikhandlela Secondary School, but nothing illegal was found there and no one was arrested.

‘However, we did receive complaints of bullying and of pupils carrying weapons to school.

‘This programme was conducted to ensure the safety of teachers and pupils. We hand over what we confiscate to the police.

‘We will continue conducting such surprise visits to all schools around the municipality,’ said Community Safety Patrol Operations Manager, Senzo Mkhwanazi.

CPF chairperson Zonita Grobbelaar said drugs at schools is a huge problem and that efforts to track down suppliers are often fruitless as those pupils who know their identities will not disclose the information out of fear for their lives.

Grobbelaar said the organisation has been working with police in investigating a house in the area suspected to be a drug den, as well as providing tip-offs on suspected dealers.

‘The great thing about it is that the task team is always providing feedback regarding drug-related tip-offs and they are arresting suspected suppliers.

‘Through the years, this has been a huge problem in Empangeni, one that we struggle to fight against and one that is infiltrating many schools.’ Grobbelaar said it is difficult to get to the bottom of the problem at schools.

‘Although some schools have drug problems comprising mostly dagga, whoonga or cough syrup and Sprite (added to make the mixture taste sweet), we struggle to get to the supplier because children who do know are too scared to talk. They know that if it gets back to the main supplier, their lives could be in danger.’

The alcohol and drug help centre, SANCA, recorded that for the period 2017 and 2018, 42 per cent of their services were offered to those under the age of 21.

Over the weekend, police arrested 11 people found in possession of drugs. Last week 17 arrests were made for similar cases.

King Cetshwayo Cluster Police spokesperson, Captain Mbongeni Mdlalose, said they have had significant successes over the past few days in eliminating crime.

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