Police in Ghanzi are investigating a case in which two men were arrested when police intercepted a package that was sent through a night bus containing about 10 kilograms of suspected marijuana. The operation by the police to successfully intercept the package came after a tip-off.
Ghanzi Police Station Commander Superintendent Dennis Zilawe, told this publication that the arrest occurred in early Tuesday morning.
In an exclusive interview, Superintendent Zilawe revealed that police received intelligence regarding a suspicious package aboard a bus that departed Gaborone at 8 pm, heading towards Ghanzi. Officers monitored the journey and took action upon the bus’s arrival in Ghanzi at around 5 am.
“A 36-year-old man collected the backpack suspected to be carrying the illegal substance,” said Zilawe. “Officers discreetly trailed him to his destination, where he was later seen meeting with a 39-year-old male accomplice.”
Both men were arrested at the scene. Upon searching the backpack, officers discovered what appeared to be cannabis wrapped in multiple layers of plastic and secured with tape. The substance is currently undergoing forensic analysis to confirm its nature.
Superintendent Zilawe stated that if confirmed to be marijuana, the suspects will face charges of possession of illegal drugs with intent to sell or distribute. Conviction on such charges could result in a prison sentence of up to five years.
He also used the opportunity to caution the public against involvement with illegal substances. “Possession and use of such drugs are illegal in Botswana and could lead to serious legal consequences,” Zilawe warned.
He further explained that cannabis is only permitted under strict medical regulations. “Even then, it must be prescribed by a licensed medical professional and used within the limits allowed by law,” he added.
This as the new government is working on introducing the cultivation and export of medicinal cannabis and industrial hemp with an aim to create the much-needed jobs. Delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA) in November last year, President Duma Boko noted that through legalizing and regulating this industry we will birth an industry previously unknown to this country except through illicit trade.
“This will facilitate the innovative use of hemp-based materials like hempcrete, hemp bricks, and hemp fiber panels. This will significantly reduce our dependency on imported construction materials and lower overall building costs,” said the president.
