31 Mar 2014

Just a month after a South African drug mule was fined for importing ephedrine, another female South African appeared before the Village Magistrate Court recently to answer for a single charge of importation of drugs without the director’s approval.

During the arraignment of the accused, Magistrate Goodwill Makofi, reminded Tamara Azevedo, 44, to pay attention when asked questions because she looked lost though she could effectively communicate in English.

The state alleged that Azevedo of Plot 105 Constitial Building, Johannesburg, unlawfully imported a whitish powder suspected to be ephedrine into Botswana without the director of public health’s approval on March 23. The accused was arrested at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport.

Sub Inspector Galekhutle Mashumba of Sir Seretse Khama Airport Police Station said the substance had been sent for scientific analysis at the police forensic laboratory while investigations continued. 

A plea was reserved and the attorney representing the accused, Mr Friday Leburu did not oppose the detention until April 3 when the prosecution will update the court on investigations and forensic results. A plea will be taken that day.

Since last year, there had been a steady rise in cases involving ephedrine drug and most of the accused were usually single mothers from poor backgrounds. This led to outgoing senior magistrate, Ms Alice Rammapudi urging the courts to take stringent measures against the culprits who used Botswana as a drug transit route to South Africa. Ends