A 42-year-old man from Emakhandeni suburb in Bulawayo who was growing marijuana in his home has been arrested.
The man identified as Mpumelelo Tshuma was also found with a plastic bag with processed dagga in his bedroom.
Bulawayo Police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube told CITE that they received a tip off that Tshuma had a nursery with several plants in his garden.
“Acting upon the information police officers proceeded to the house and searched the premises starting with the surroundings and discovered four plants which were later measured and found to be measuring 2 metres, 1.8 meters, 1.9 metres, 2metres and bunched branches measuring 1.6metres,” said Inspector Ncube.
He said upon discovering the mbanje plants, a female aged 20 years who was at the house at the time implicated Tshuma.
Inspector Ncube added that the police officers laid an ambush at the house leading to Tshuma’s arrest.
“At around 1600hours, the accused person arrived at the house. Upon interviewing him, he did not give satisfactory answers in connection with the plants. The accused person was made to lead the police officers to his room. In the room a search was made leading to the discovery of the plastic bag containing some dried dagga on top of a wardrobe hidden under some clothes,” he said.
Inspector Ncube added that Tshuma was escorted to ZRP Entumbane together with the exhibits.
The mbanje plants’ street value is yet to be ascertained.
Inspector Ncube urged members of the public to report any person that is illegally dealing in dangerous drugs to the police.
“Many of these dangerous drugs can have detrimental health and psychological effects on the general populace and the most susceptible are the youth. It is therefore imperative that we as the community of Bulawayo safeguard the mental and psychological well being of our children by fighting the scourge of drug abuse and illegal cultivation and selling of dangerous drugs by reporting any persons that are illegally dealing in dangerous drugs to the police, said the police spokesperson.
