Online Reporter
Peter Matika, Senior Court Reporter
TYRON Pigors Siegfried, a 39-year-old drug peddler, has been sentenced to eight years in prison after he was convicted of illegally dealing with crystal methamphetamine.
Siegfried was commuted to the sentence by Bulawayo regional magistrate, Mrs Sibongile Mkandla, who suspended three years of the sentence on condition of good behaviour.
He will serve for an effective five years behind bars.
Siegfried was arrested on March 6 this year after he was found in possession of 1.2 kgs of crystal meth worth more than US$6 000.
Before being convicted, the accused had challenged the State’s case against him, after making an application to be provided with summary findings of investigations to proceed with the trial.
Siegfried is charged with illegal possession and dealing of illegal drugs, specifically crystal meth.
The State, according to records, indicated that Siegfried was arrested at his home in Matsheumhlope after surveillance on him since February.
Acting on gathered information, detectives raided Siegfried’s home, finding the drugs stashed in a Lobels biscuit box, a Puma sneaker box, a dictionary-shaped safe, and a large blue metal trunk in his bedroom. Police also seized measuring scales used for packaging the drugs.
Siegfried’s sentencing follows the jailing of Gary Bell, another drug dealer, who was arrested in February this year.
The jailing of the two comes amid growing concerns over the widespread abuse of drugs in communities, which have been linked to a surge in violent crime, including robberies and fatal confrontations.
The Government has intensified its crackdown on drug smuggling and the trade of narcotics in the country.
In the past few weeks, police have been conducting raids, targeting houses believed to be linked to drug activity.
National police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said police over the last 30 days arrested many drug dealers and seized different types of narcotics
He warned transport operators against transporting contraband saying police have also noted with concern the rising number of rape and murder cases involving men believed to be under the influence of drugs and other prohibited substances.
Meanwhile, Darian-Lee Kevin Lloyd Jackson (31) and Lakin Lee Robinson (32), both from West Somerton suburb, who were arrested in July this year after police found drugs with an estimated street value of ZWG$405,400 and US$8,000 in their possession, are set to face trial.
The pair, following their arrest, have been appearing in court for routine remand.
According to court records, on July 18 at around 10PM, detectives from the CID Drugs and Narcotics Unit received a tip-off that the couple was distributing cocaine and dagga in and around the city centre using a white vehicle with registration plates AF16049.
It was stated that, acting on that information, detectives mounted surveillance in the CBD.
“They identified the vehicle with the two accused persons inside and approached them. After introducing themselves, they searched the vehicle and recovered four sachets of cocaine weighing five grams, 10 sachets of dagga, 10 sachets of cannabis gummies and three sachets of cannabis-laced sweets stashed in various compartments,” read court documents.
Following the arrest, a further search was conducted at the couple’s home, where police recovered a large cache of drugs, including 41 sachets of dagga weighing 4,1kg, five sachets of prepared dagga cigarettes, and two 20-litre buckets full of loose dagga and cannabis gummies and sweets.
In total, police seized approximately 9kg of dagga and 3,6g of cocaine. The dagga had an estimated street value of ZWG$240 000 while the cocaine was valued at ZWG$165 400.
The couple allegedly packaged the drugs into edible forms such as confectionery laced with cannabis for distribution.
The couple is being represented by Mr Tinashe Tashaya of Sengweni Legal Practice.
