Two foreign nationals were arrested on Wednesday in Bloemfontein after police allegedly found khat worth an estimated R15 000 during a stop-and-search operation in the CBD. A second suspect was arrested at the police station after arriving with more of the substance.
Image: South African Police Service
Two foreign nationals were arrested in separate but linked incidents in Bloemfontein’s central business district after police allegedly found them in possession of khat worth an estimated R15 000.
According to police, members of the Parkweg Bike Squad were conducting stop-and-search operations on Power Street at about 12:30pm on Wednesday when they noticed a 53-year-old man carrying a large black bag that aroused suspicion.
Officers searched the man and reportedly discovered multiple bunches of khat plants in his possession. He was arrested on charges of possessing an undesirable dependence-producing substance in contravention of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act 140 of 1992.
Police said the case took a further twist when, while the first suspect was being processed at the police station, a 45-year-old fellow countryman arrived to enquire about him.
Officers searched a black plastic bag he was carrying and allegedly found more bunches of the same substance, leading to his arrest.
The two suspects remain in custody and are expected to make their first court appearance in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court soon.
The arrests form part of ongoing police operations targeting drugs and other illicit activity in the city centre.
Khat (scientific name: Catha edulis) is a flowering evergreen shrub native to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Its fresh leaves are chewed for their stimulant effect.
In South Africa, khat is illegal because cathinone is classified as a controlled substance under drug laws. Possession, use, or distribution can lead to legal consequences.
When chewed, khat can produce:
Increased alertness and energy
Euphoria and talkativeness
Reduced appetite
However, it can also cause:
Anxiety, irritability, or insomnia
Increased heart rate and blood pressure
Dependence with frequent use