Police in Babanango in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) have arrested a fellow police officer and his two accomplices after they were found in possession of 31 bales of dagga along the R34 Road in Babanango on Friday afternoon.
According to KZN SAPS Spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda, the police received information of a white Toyota Rumion, which was suspected to be transporting dagga from Nongoma, driving towards Ulundi.
“An operation involving officers from Babanango, Ulundi, Mahlabathini, and Ulundi K9 Unit was swiftly set up, and the vehicle was spotted and stopped. Upon searching the vehicle, police found 31 bales of dagga wrapped with brown cello tape.
“Three occupants of the vehicle were arrested for dealing in dagga. The driver was identified as a police Constable, who is a member of the Public Order Police (POP) in Durban,
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal, Major General Phumelele Makoba, applauded the police for applying the law equally by arresting their own colleague.
She said that police officers are not above the law and must be exemplary in the communities.
“For us to effectively fight crime, we must first clean ourselves from the inside. We cannot afford to have police officers breaking the very same law that they are supposed to uphold and enforce. I have directed that necessary internal disciplinary steps must be instituted against the officer, simultaneously with the criminal proceedings”, said Major General Makoba.
The suspects will appear in court soon.