Hitchhiker caught with dagga sachets

By: ADAM HARTMAN

A ZIMBABWEAN national, who had been given a lift by a truck driver, was arrested in Swakopmund on Wednesday for being in possession of 56 sachets of dagga with a street value of nearly N$3 500.

According to William Basson of Welwitschia Security Services, the man, identified as Ishe Gashu, was seen getting off the truck opposite the Martin Luther monument just outside Swakopmund, from where he walked towards Mondesa. It was just before noon.
“We were watching this from a distance and a red light went up when we saw the truck turn into Nelson Mandela road at the truck port, not so far away from where the suspect got off. Why would a hitchhiker get off when the truck was going into that part of town already; he could have just remained in the vehicle,” Basson said.
The security team approached Gashu and introduced themselves before requesting him to show the contents of his pockets and a bag he was carrying.
“After packing out and trying to delay the process, we told him to give the bag to us to have a look and as he gave us the bag we could already smell the cannabis. This is when we discovered the drugs, and took the man to the Swakopmund police station where he was arrested,” said Basson.
Gashu appeared in the Swakopmund Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges of drug possession and dealing. He was not granted bail and will remain in custody until his next appearance next month.
According to Basson, drug couriers often hitch a lift with a trucks to avoid detection at roadblocks.

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