07 Nov 2022

Police are investigating an incident in which a 30-year-old man of Botshabelo ward in Maun died after ingesting a substance suspected to be drugs during scuffle with the police at Setata Veterinary gate near between Sehithwa and Tsau on Saturday.

Botswana Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Dipheko Motube said in an interview that the deceased who was in the company of two other young men from Maun and heading to Gumare, were subjected to a search at a road block at Setata gate.

While being searched, he said, a scuffle ensued between the deceased and the police, during which the deceased swallowed one of the three sachets in his possession, which police suspected to be drugs.

He said the deceased later fell unconscious and he was rushed to Sehithwa clinic, where he was referred to Letsholathebe Memorial hospital. The man was certified dead upon arrival at the hospital.

Assistant Commissioner Motube said the sachet had been taken to the laboratory for forensic analysis while investigations continue. The other two men were released same day.

He appealed to the community to join forces with the police to fight illicit drug use, which he said a growing problem among young people in the country.

 Meanwhile Detective sergeant Thulaganyo Lebakeng of Narcotics, Fauna and Flora Unit in Maun recently revealed that illicit drug and substance use was prevalent among young people in Maun, despite continuous public education campaigns and other efforts to sensitize the youth on the risks of drug abuse.

Males, she said were more into selling of drugs while their counterparts were the buyers with the most commonly used being dagga followed by Methcathinone commonly known as ‘CAT’.

 Last year, she said they registered 51 cases of dagga and nine of Methcathinone as compared to 43 cases of dagga and 10 of possession of Methcathinone recorded in 2020.

Concerning charges for those found in possession of drugs, she explained that possession of less than 60 grams of dagga was liable to a fine not exceeding P20 000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding three years.

For more than 60 grams, the person shall be liable to a fine not exceeding P500 000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or both. Ends