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Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent—
POLICE in Bulawayo have busted three suspected drug dealers, one of them a woman, and recovered 85kg of mbanje with a street value of about $86 000. Detectives arrested Simangeni Ndlovu (34), the lady, Farai Aruchupeta (39) from Pumula South and Shepherd Edson Town (37) of Emganwini for peddling the dangerous drug. Following up on a lead in a case of theft from vehicles, police found the suspects smoking mbanje. They implicated Ndlovu as the source of the drug.

Sustained intelligence gathering and investigation resulted in the arrest of all three suspected drug dealers. The last suspect was arrested on Wednesday night. Acting Bulawayo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Abednico Ncube said the trio was arrested separately at their homes.

“When Criminal Investigations (CID) detectives investigating theft from vehicles got to a gambling school they arrested two people they found smoking weed. The two implicated Ndlovu,” said Asst Insp Ncube. “The police went to Ndlovu’s house, searched it and found 16 twists of weed.” He said Ndlovu told investigators that Aruchupeta was her supplier, resulting in police searching his home.

“When they got to his house they found a 61-year-old man who allowed them to search the house. After searching the house they found three-and-a-half 50kgs of weed resulting in the arrest of Farai,” he said.

Asst Insp Ncube said Aruchupeta further incriminated Town. “He told the police that Shepherd was his supplier and he was also arrested and in total police recovered 85,5kgs of weed with a street value of $85 800,” said Asst Insp Ncube.

The acting spokesperson said the suspects would appear in court soon. He urged members of the public not to use drugs as they contribute to rowdiness and hooliganism. Asst Insp Ncube said police are out in full force to ensure that members of the public abide by the law saying they will rid society of all criminal elements.

Drug abuse has been blamed for violence and crime while in some cases it has been known to cause mental illness. – @nqotshili