03 Mar 2019

Police in the northern region have revealed a dangerous new method of drug-taking known as ‘bluetoothing’ amongst youth drug addicts in Tonota.

‘Bluetoothing’ is a method of drug taking where drug addicts who do not have money to buy drugs of their choice withdraw blood from an addict who has had a hit and inject it into themselves to get high. 

An investigator with the Narcotics, Flora and Fauna Division of Botswana Police Service in Francistown, Detective Constable Motshidisi Sello told a youth workshop on substance abuse in Tonota recently that the police had registered a case in which a youth showed signs of needle injections on both of his hands. 

He explained that the youth admitted to bluetoothing and that the process involved multiple drug users injecting blood from another user.

Detective Constable Sello explained that if surrounding villages such as Tonota had such cases, it meant Francistown might be worse, adding that some of the cases went unreported.

Bluetoothing is dangerous as it involves the sharing of blood that could be contaminated with the AIDS virus among others. 

Detective Constable Sello also addressed participants on other drugs that are commonly used  such as dagga, ecstasy, cocaine, alcohol and cigarettes. 

He told participants that the law would always take its course against drug users, adding that it was the reason government amended the law to increase penalties for drug use as a deterrent. 

Detective Sello said under the new law, anyone found in possession of dagga which was less than 60 grams would be liable to a fine not exceeding P20 000 or imprisonment not exceeding three years or both.

He said above 60 grams, the convicted person would receive a fine of not more than P500 000 or 10 years’ imprisonment or both. 

For hard drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy, the convicted person will ‘rot in jail.’

“We should not have mercy when it comes to drugs. Convicted persons should receive the sentence that corresponds to the offence they have committed,” he said. 

He also briefed participants on money laundering and other related offences.

The two-day workshop, which attracted youth from the villages of Tonota constituency, was held under the theme: An empowered youth, an empowered nation (#Say no to substance abuse). ends