By: Khetho Dlamini

Eight suspects have been arrested by the National Intervention Unit of the South African

Police Service in connection with the possession of illegal drugs at Chatsworth earlier today.

The suspects were arrested on an intelligence driven operation targeting drug dens.

Heroin and straw drugs were seized by the police. The drugs are set to be sent for laboratory testing.

Colonel Jay Naicker, KwaZulu-Natal SAPS spokesperson said that the drugs will be sent for forensic analysis.

“They have an estimated street value of R80 000 but in the meantime all eight will appear in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court,” added Naicker.

“Many of us in this area are victims of crime because of the youth that take drugs then rob us of our material things and even murder others if they try to fight them,” expressed a resident
Nishola Chetty.

According to the drug related statistics, there has been a rapid increase of drug related crimes in KwaZulu-Natal.

The police launched this operation specifically to fight the possession and use of illegal drugs.

Dannesh Naidoo of the Chatsworth SAPS said, “We launched this operation to address the issue of drugs in Chatsworth but it does not end here. It will go to the far extends of the
province and the country at large.”