A BULAWAYO man from Magwegwe North suburb has been arrested for allegedly possessing crystal methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $2 million.
Crystal meth is an extremely dangerous and highly addictive synthetic drug that remains the most abused by at least 57 percent of Zimbabwean youths.
Side effects of the drug include an increase in heart and breathing rates, blood pressure and body temperature, nausea, diarrhoea, suicidal thoughts, increased talkativeness, and a tendency to engage in repetitive actions.
The suspect, Misheck Tembo (43), ran out of luck when detectives approached him and pretended to be clients after getting a tip-off that he sells drugs from the city centre.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident yesterday, saying Tembo was arrested on Friday.
“On Friday at around 6 AM, police received information to the effect that Misheck Tembo was selling drugs within Bulawayo city centre. Acting swiftly upon the information they misrepresented themselves to the accused person as customers who wanted to buy crystal meth and met the accused at Bulawayo City Council Revenue Hall along RG Mugabe Way,” said Insp Ncube.
“Upon meeting him he was searched and a plastic bag with three sachets of crystal methamphetamine was found leading to his arrest. Tembo led the police to his house where a search was conducted in his bedroom and another big black plastic containing crystal methamphetamine, 2 transparent plastics containing cat (methcathinone), plastic packaging and one silver digital scale was recovered. The crystal methamphetamine and cat (methcathinone) weighed 375 grammes and 15 grammes respectively with a street value of $2 349 000.”
Insp Ncube applauded members of the public who helped the police with information that led to the arrest of the accused person.
“The level of participation in the fight against crime by the Bulawayo community is pleasing and criminals are warned that the long arm of the law will always catch up with them,” he said.
The drug is known by many names that include Batu, chalk, crank, crystal, crystal meth, glass, ice, meth, poor man’s cocaine, shabu, speed, tina, trash, yaba and zip.
President Mnangagwa recently said Government will soon review the legal framework on dangerous drugs and illicit substances to come up with deterrent sentences for convicted persons who often prey on young people with dangerous and banned substances.
Police have since launched a blitz on drug lords, peddlers and abusers in an operation code-named “No to dangerous drugs and illicit substances” that has seen scores of drug suppliers being arrested.
So far 2 693 people have been arrested countrywide since the operation was launched. – The Chronicle
