DUO TO APPEAR IN COURT FOR POSSESSION OF DRUGS AND CONTRAVENTION OF MEDICINE AND RELATED SUBSTANCES ACT

Two suspects aged 24 and 33 are expected to appear before Nelspruit Magistrate's Court on Friday, 24 January 2025, for unlawful possession of drugs and Contravention of Medicine and Related Act.

The Hawks Nelspruit based Serious Organised Crime Investigation, in partnership with Whiteriver K9 and Nelspruit Local Criminal Record Center (LCRC), followed up on received information about a shop that kept regulated medicine and steroids at The Groove shopping complex, Nelspruit.

On arrival, the team informed the shop employee about the intent to search as per the issued search warrant.

During the search, regulated medicines and steroids were found inside the shop. The employee responsible for the shop failed to provide the permit to possess such medicines and steroids. The said employee and his friend were arrested for Contravention of Medicine and Related Substances Act.

Further investigation was conducted, and the team advanced to the suspects' residents accompanied by the suspects where more substances believed to be drugs, including Cat, Extacy, LSD, Morfine, and dagga were found and seized.

The suspects are expected to make their first court appearance before the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court on Friday, 24 January 2025.

The Mpumalanga Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Nico Gerber, commended the team for the outstanding work. "The major bust is one of several conducted around the province. These shops are selling scheduled medicine only to be prescribed by a medical doctor and dispensed by a registered pharmacist. These schedule drugs can have adverse effects and even death if used incorrectly and in incorrect dosages. The public must refrain from buying unregulated scheduled medicine." added the General.