Police nab 4 000 illicit drug users, 466 peddlers

Bulawayo (New Ziana) – As the fight against illicit drug and substance abuse in the country intensifies, a top police officer said on Thursday over 4 000 suspected users, and 466 dealers and peddlers had been arrested from January to date.

Addressing a drug and substance abuse conference here, police commissioner general, Godwin Matanga said large quantities of illicit drugs had also been confiscated and destroyed during the period.

The government, alarmed by the widespread intake of illicit drugs and substances in the country, especially by youths, has launched a crackdown, targeting both users and dealers and peddlers.

Matanga said among suspected drug dealers arrested were nationals from India, Nigeria, Brazil and Latvia, and they appeared to also be supplying other countries in the region as well.

“Some of these foreigners had in their possession large quantities of heroine and cocaine equally intended for different destinations across the globe,” he said.

Among popular illicit drugs and substances in the local market were mutoriro, crystal meth, bronclear, marijuana, injectables, illicit brews and spirits.

These have caused untold psychological and physiological health complications, immorality as well as anti-social behaviour, especially among youths.

“What we face today as a drug and substance abuse problem is a clear manifestation of highly sophisticated syndicated network of transitional organised criminal activities which are interwoven,” Matanga said.

“Syndicates dealing in both plant-based and synthetic drugs and substances are spirited and determined to fight the world with dangerous drugs and substances out of which they are making unimaginable sums of money. The money is also utilised to finance other diverse organised crimes,” he added.

He said the fight against drug and substance abuse was multifaceted, as it also involved other crime types.

“We are also strengthening drug (surveillance) mechanisms at ports of entry and exit, and manning of roadblocks to plug the movement of drugs,” Matanga said.

“Police is also carrying raids on suppliers and consumers at known places of consumption together with public awareness and educational programmes,” he added.

He appealed for additional resourcing of the police, in terms of equipment, training and other areas, to stay ahead of the drug peddlers.

“Our units need state of the art detection technologies at the port of entry and exits as well as funding for localised and international training to catch up with new skills and requirements in this field,” Matanga said.

New Ziana