Drug BUST: Phoenix men in court after raid on manufacturing den
The Hawks swooped on the suspects who were allegedly manufacturing drugs in a house in Phoenix, North of Durban this week.
Two suspects appeared in the Verulam Magistrates Court to face charges of dealing in drugs after they were arrested and more than a quarter of a million rands in drugs was recovered during a police raid on Tuesday.
Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo said that police offers from the Durban Serious Organised Crime Investigation working together with Crime Intelligence and Durban Metro Drug Team had arrested the two suspects, Nikkita Landie, 29, and Ronaldo Pillay, 24, for dealing in drugs in the Phoenix area North of Durban.
“Information was received about a suspect who was reportedly manufacturing drugs in the area. An intelligence driven operation was swiftly conducted and they proceeded to (a particular) residence,” Mhlongo said.
“A search was conducted and police found crack cocaine, cocaine powder, large pieces of cocaine moon and paraphernalia. Police probed further and a second suspect was apprehended in the vicinity,” he said.
Mholongo said the police officers then took the drug dealing suspect to his place of residence where more drugs, including mandrax tablets, were seized in the house and in his vehicle.
“The street value of the seized drugs and paraphernalia is approximately R267 500,”Mhlongo said.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident police on Tuesday that they re seeking the assistance of the community to track down the remaining armed suspects following an armed robbery at the Post Office situated at the Tusong Centre in Mid Illovo in which an SAPS member was shot and killed this morning.
SAPS spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said that at the time of the incident, the Post Office was to administer pension payouts when a group of at least five suspects stormed the Post Office.
“The deceased member was responding to the commotion when he was shot at by the suspects. He sadly succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The suspects then at gun point forced the Post Office manager to direct the suspects where the money was kept. The suspects then made off with an undisclosed amount of money. The suspects fled the scene in two white vehicles. Hot on the heels of the suspects, police have arrested two suspects,” Mathe said.
The remaining suspects are still at large.
“Various units within the SAPS including KZN airwing, K9, DPCI,forensic experts and other law enforcement agencies have been mobilised in a bid to apprehend the remaining suspects who fled with the money,” Mathe said.
