Police discovered a new drug in Cape Town during a bust in Grassy Park on Thursday.
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Colonel Dawood Laing, Grassy Park station commander, says a 28-year-old suspect was found with 10 sachets of a pink powder-like substance, or ‘pink cocaine’.
According to IOL, the drug was first used in Spain and it is known as ‘Tucibi’. Locally, it is called ‘Tusi’ and can sell for up to R1 000 for a small sachet or ‘bankie’.
‘We received a tip-off from residents about possible drug sales at a house in Grassy Park. We obtained a search warrant, which we executed. We found 10 packets with a bright pink powder-like substance.
‘On further investigation and questioning, we were told this is pink cocaine, also known as Tusi. It apparently comes from Spain but as far as I know, this is the first time it has been found in Cape Town.’
Laing says it is believed that this drug is targeted at high-income drug users who already use cocaine. ‘This is a more potent form so they can reach their highs quicker. Also, with the difference in colour and largely unknown by police officers, it could easily be overlooked and not recognised as a drug we know.’
He adds that the suspect will spend the weekend in jail before appearing at the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
‘In our investigation, we found the suspect is not known to us, and we keep a very good record of all the dealers in our precinct. He will probably apply for bail but we intend [to oppose] it.
‘We will now intensify our investigations to try to track where this drug is coming from and who the suppliers are. As this is still new, we do not know much, but it is important that anyone with information comes forward.
‘We also urge parents to be aware and extra cautious and to not give their children large sums of money.’
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Ashley Potts, the former director of the Cape Town Drug Counselling Centre, says he was not aware that the pink cocaine was used locally. He also cautions that it could be lethal.
‘It is a fentanyl-based drug and is laced with other things such as bath salts, ecstasy, hallucinogens and opioids, with the last being what causes the dependency or addiction to the drug. We have not yet heard of this being used locally and it is very concerning.’
He adds that it is crucial for officials to conduct testing to determine which ingredients are used to make the drug. ‘It will go to the government labs for testing and it is very important that we find out what exactly this is made of. The problem with most drugs is that the pure version is not as dangerous as what it is laced with. The colour could be a mere form of concealment as it would not be what our police are trained to look for.’
Community safety MEC Reagen Allen welcomed the arrest, noting the negative effects of the illicit drug trade. ‘We have been plagued by drugs that only tear apart families and communities, and ensnare too many of our people in the bonds of addiction.
‘Crucially, they provide the most important and vital source of income for gangs, thus driving incessant and constant violence.
‘Since taking up a seat in Parliament in 2019, I have vigorously addressed and taken up the issue of drugs and gangsterism in our province and will further engage the provincial commissioner to ensure that the flow of drugs, new or old, [is] curbed.’
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