Drug dealers are extending their markets by invading parts of the country not usually associated with drug-taking.
According to the police, drug syndicates are spreading their business from big cities - and authorities are concerned by the trend.
This year, dozens of pushers have been arrested for peddling drugs in areas around Nelspruit and Bloemfontein.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Superintendent Isak van Zyl said on Tuesday that 23 people from Nigeria, Pakistan and Mozambique had been arrested at the weekend.
| 'They're freely available on Free State streets ' |
Drugs worth more than R200 000 were confiscated.
"The 23 were arrested during a major operation in the Nelspruit, Hazyview and Sabie areas, among others.
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"Cocaine, Mandrax, Ecstasy, rocks (crack cocaine) and LSD were recovered."
"There is a serious increase in drug dealing in our area," Van Zyl said.
"We think that most of the syndicates originate from wealthy provinces such as Gauteng."
"Apparently they have established a market in our area because more and more young people are taking drugs."
He said 19 people, believed to be members of drug syndicates, were arrested in Secunda at the beginning of the year while another eight were arrested in Witbank in March.
"There is a drug route between Mozambique and Gauteng but we're achieving success through our continuous operations," Van Zyl said.
In Bloemfontein, 13 people were arrested during a raid at a nightclub and flats in the central business district earlier this month.
Free State police spokesperson Inspector Lorain Kalp said there was an increase in active drug syndicates operating in the area.
"These syndicates are believed to be from other provinces who try their luck in our province."
"During the operation, cocaine, heroin, Mandrax, LSD, Ecstasy and rocks were confiscated."
"These alleged drug dealers, who are all from West African countries, target men and women between the ages of 16 and 29.
"Drugs are freely available on the streets and drug-related crimes are a reality in the Free State."
"It is alarming to see how uninformed the youth are about the devastating effects that drugs have on their lives," Kalp added.
Limpopo police spokesperson Superintendent Frans Mojapelo said that because the province bordered Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, police were extra vigilant about drug trafficking.
"Although we haven't received reports about an increase on drug trafficking lately, last year we arrested a number of people and confiscated machines used for drug manufacturing on a farm," he said.
Gauteng police spokesperson Director Faizel Kader said the province had made a significant breakthrough in drug syndicates.
He said that even if drug dealers moved away from Gauteng to other provinces, it would not help them because the police had a nationwide network.
"With the help of Interpol and other police units we are able to arrest them wherever they are."
"Drug dealers think they will be successful if they operate in other areas, but they are totally wrong," he warned.
- This article was originally published on page 5 of The Star on June 16, 2004
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