BLOEMFONTEIN – Members of the Public Order Police Unit, Bloemfontein Platoon 8, have arrested two men, aged 26 and 27, in Willows, following the discovery of various dagga products with an estimated combined street value of R77 400.

Free State police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Thabo Covane said that one of the suspects attempted to prevent officers’ access to a popular lifestyle venue, Trapping at da Bando, on King Edward Street, by releasing pit bulls. He said the discovery of quantities of dagga products at the venue came after officers on a routine patrol under Operation Shanela II, found rolled zols upon searching a group of young men in the suburb which is one of the premier hubs for student accommodation in Bloemfontein.

“Officers found rolled zols and zip-lock bags containing dagga in the possession of the group. They then gave information about the address where dagga was sold. The team operationalised the information and had to tactically breach the locked door. The first suspect was arrested while attempting to escape through the toilet window, and the second was apprehended just before he could open a dog kennel where pit bulls were kept,” said Covane.

He said members confiscated dagga and related products as evidence in the presence of the two suspects. “Cash presumed to be the proceeds of drug sales was counted and confiscated as well. The two suspects failed to produce any type of permit for the possession, cultivation or sale of dagga and dagga products,” said Covane, adding that the two would appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court soon, facing charges of dealing in dagga.