Drug dealers target private schools

MBABANE – Private schools have become the target for drug dealers as they have recruited some pupils attending class in such schools to become their ‘agents’. They sell to their schoolmates.

The pupil working as agents are aged between 15-25 years explained a former pupil from one of the schools a user himself.
These schools are targeted because it is believed that it is where children of the ‘rich’ are schooled and they always have money readily available.

The names of the schools where this is predominantly happening have been deliberately withheld but are in three regions, Hhohho, Lubombo and Manzini being the centre and source of supply.
Drugs are also sold in other schools but not at the same rate as in private schools. The pupils who have been recruited as agents include both boys and girls.

Drugs are also readily available in some institutions of higher learning where agents are studying.
The agents also sell in nightclubs on weekends as was confirmed by a local dj. Ecstasy is the favoured drug in nightclubs and it is easily accessible than cocaine or heroin.   

The drugs that are sold include cocaine and ecstasy, which are said to be favourite among pupils and are always readily available. However of the two, ecstasy is the favourite as it cheaper than cocaine which is sold for E500 a sloop.
This is according to some users and dealers who said the market is big in privately owned expensive schools.

Marijuana is also said to be readily available in schools especially government schools as it is considered affordable unlike drugs.
“Drugs such as cocaine may not be common in government schools but the market exists at private schools,” said a former pupil. “Drugs are usually taken during break time and after class within the school premises. The buying and selling is done discreetly, such that you would only see two pupils standing and chatting yet a deal is being brokered. Those pupils who sell the drugs get them from the syndicates operating around the city centre.”

He said dealers target private schools because pupils there carry a lot of cash and that some are able to hand-in expensive gadgets such as cellphones when they fail to pay up.
Explaining how he got hooked on drugs, he said it started by smoking marijuana and ended up taking cocaine and ecstasy due to peer pressure.
“Ecstasy is mostly sold in night clubs,” he shared.
This was confirmed by a local dj – adding that ‘dealing’ does not only take place during big events and the dealers are usually fearless despite police presence.

“It’s a war the police can never win,” he said.
When asked how the dealers manage to evade police, the DJ said no one can differentiate between a user and a non-user.
“You can’t just easily spot a user but what I can tell you is that the dealers make thousands in just one night. Users communicate with agents first before the transaction can be concluded. They first check you out just to be sure that you are not a police or something.

“Once you pass whatever scrutiny you are then taken to a secluded place where money and the drugs are exchanged. It’s always quick,” he said.
Asked where the drugs are sourced from, the dj said the suppliers include foreigners mainly from West Africa and Asia. The drugs are reportedly brought into the country through Mozambique as well as South Africa if not through informal crossings they are passed as other goods at the border.
According to an agent police do not have the capacity to wipe out drug dealing.

“If anything, drug usage is increasing. The number of users is increasing especially in private schools and institutions of higher learning. Most of the dealing takes place in places frequented by police yet they rarely arrest users because they cannot spot them,” he said.
When asked how the suppliers evade being detected by the police when they bring drugs into the country, he said there are many ways in which this is done.

“Border control officials usually respect people driving expensive vehicles in the company of a woman appearing respectable. When they see you with a woman beside you, they assume you are clean and only ask a few questions before being allowed to pass through,” said the agent.
He said the local police usually focus on marijuana whereas the major business is also in cocaine and other drugs including mandrax although mandrax are not that common but available.

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