Latest news with #drugdealer
The Herald
2 days ago
- The Herald
Two men jailed for brutal vigilante attack on alleged drug dealer
Free State police confiscated an assortment of dangerous weapons from a vigilante mob that murdered an alleged drug dealer in January 2023: pangas, daggers, knives, garden shears, a hoe, scissors, a screwdriver, axe and petrol bombs. 'The incident unfolded when the Bloemfontein public order policing team was deployed to Bethlehem for crowd management duties after reports of community members confronting alleged drug dealers in the Bohlokong area,' said police spokesperson Sgt Mahlomola Kareli. 'One of the houses targeted was that of the alleged drug lord in the community.' Two female police officers intervened when a large crowd started stabbing a 37-year-old man with pangas and knives. The victim died at the scene. Two men were arrested: Joseph Tshabalala, 44, also known as 'Toki', and Ernest Semela, 25, also known as 'Bikkie'. Seventeen more suspects were rounded up, including a women, with an assortment of weapons and petrol bombs. ' After a two-year investigation and trial, the two primary suspects, Joseph 'Toki' Tshabalala and Ernest 'Bikkie' Semela, pleaded guilty to murder. They were each sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for murder,' said Kareli. 'The case against 17 other suspects was withdrawn.' TimesLIVE
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Drug dealer jailed after texting police by mistake
A drug dealer who mistakenly texted a police officer about his latest illicit offerings has been jailed. Jack Johannesen, 23, from Stirling Close, Sandy, Bedfordshire, was found guilty in Luton Crown Court on 18 July of two counts of dealing cannabis and one additional count of breaching bail conditions. He was sentenced to two years and 10 months. The 23-year-old was part of an organised crime group operating across Biggleswade and Sandy, dealing in cannabis, crack cocaine and heroin. On 25 October last year, officers carried out a search warrant at his home and arrested him on suspicion of supplying class B drugs. Multiple phones were recovered, including one he had smashed and discarded in the kitchen bin. Recovered phone data revealed he had contacted more than 400 numbers to arrange drug deals. Eight days after he was bailed, he sent out a group text advertising his new drug line using a newly-registered phone. Without realising, however, he sent the message to the phone of a police officer that had been at the initial warrant. Police returned to his address on 28 November and arrested him again for supplying class A and class B drugs. They seized a small quantity of cannabis, nearly £2,000 in cash, some high value designer goods and another phone hidden behind a wardrobe that rang during the search. Detective Constable Adam Geary, from the Bedfordshire Police Boson team, said: 'We know that residents in Biggleswade and Sandy have felt the knock-on effects of drug-dealing within its communities. 'Our community officers have been working alongside local residents to identify drug-dealing hotspots and target those fuelling the issue for their own illicit gain. 'It is vital that we continue to work together and make our communities an inhospitable place for drug-dealers such as Johannesen. 'Johannesen is now rightfully behind bars, and we urge anyone with information about other drug-related crimes to come forward so we can continue to secure convictions against others who seek to cause harm.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Drug dealer jailed after texting police by mistake
A drug dealer who accidentally texted a police officer about his new drug line has been jailed. Jack Johannesen, 23, of Stirling Close, Sandy, Bedfordshire, admitted two counts of being concerned in the supply of cannabis - and one count of breaching bail conditions. Bedfordshire Police said he was part of an organised crime croup (OCG) operating across Biggleswade and Sandy supplying cannabis, crack cocaine and heroin. Det Con Adam Geary said it was vital the force continued "to work together and make our communities an inhospitable place for drug-dealers such as Johannesen". He was handed two years and 10 months at a sentencing hearing at Luton Crown Court. Mobile phones On 25 October last year, officers executed a warrant at Johannesen's home address where he was arrested for being concerned in the supply of class B drugs. Multiple mobile phones were seized from the property, including one found in the kitchen bin which he had attempted to smash up. Messages downloaded from all devices showed more than 400 numbers were contacted about drugs available and costs. Johannesen was bailed, but eight days later, used a newly registered phone to send a message with his new deal line. However, he mistakenly sent the message to a police officer's work phone – one of the officers who had been at the initial warrant. On 28 November, another warrant was executed at his address where he was further arrested for being concerned in the supply of class A and class B drugs. A small amount of cannabis, high value designer items and nearly £2,000 in cash was seized. On this occasion, Johannesen had also attempted to hide a mobile phone behind a wardrobe which was discovered when it started ringing during the search. On Friday, Johannsen pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of cannabis and one count of breaching his bail conditions at Luton Crown Court. He also denied - and was found not guilty - of a charge relating to the supply of cocaine. Det Con Geary added: "Johannesen is now rightfully behind bars and we urge anyone with information about other drug-related crimes to come forward so we can continue to secure convictions against others who seek to cause harm." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Related internet links Bedfordshire Police Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Drug dealer from Sandy jailed after texting police by mistake
A drug dealer who accidentally texted a police officer about his new drug line has been Johannesen, 23, of Stirling Close, Sandy, Bedfordshire, admitted two counts of being concerned in the supply of cannabis - and one count of breaching bail Police said he was part of an organised crime croup (OCG) operating across Biggleswade and Sandy supplying cannabis, crack cocaine and Con Adam Geary said it was vital the force continued "to work together and make our communities an inhospitable place for drug-dealers such as Johannesen". He was handed two years and 10 months at a sentencing hearing at Luton Crown Court. Mobile phones On 25 October last year, officers executed a warrant at Johannesen's home address where he was arrested for being concerned in the supply of class B mobile phones were seized from the property, including one found in the kitchen bin which he had attempted to smash downloaded from all devices showed more than 400 numbers were contacted about drugs available and was bailed, but eight days later, used a newly registered phone to send a message with his new deal he mistakenly sent the message to a police officer's work phone – one of the officers who had been at the initial 28 November, another warrant was executed at his address where he was further arrested for being concerned in the supply of class A and class B drugs.A small amount of cannabis, high value designer items and nearly £2,000 in cash was this occasion, Johannesen had also attempted to hide a mobile phone behind a wardrobe which was discovered when it started ringing during the Friday, Johannsen pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of cannabis and one count of breaching his bail conditions at Luton Crown also denied - and was found not guilty - of a charge relating to the supply of Con Geary added: "Johannesen is now rightfully behind bars and we urge anyone with information about other drug-related crimes to come forward so we can continue to secure convictions against others who seek to cause harm." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
CNA
5 days ago
- CNA
Addicted: The global drug war like you've never seen it
The CNA team gained rare access in 10 countries for Addicted, a documentary series that examines the conditions and human stories behind the drug epidemic. In Karachi, Pakistan, police haul in suspects for questioning after raiding a drug den in a residential area. Deep in the cartel-run jungles of Putumayo, Colombia, a coca farmer shows CNA his freshly made base cocaine. A drug dealer in Gothenburg, Sweden, shows CNA some of his purest cocaine, which he plans to sell for around 15,000 Swedish krona (US$1,540). At the Thamkrabok Temple in Saraburi, Thailand, recovering drug addicts down a potent herbal mix to purge their bodies of toxins. In British Columbia, Canada, a drug addict stumbles around Vancouver's streets as the country battles a synthetic opioid crisis. Next Story
