Police bust illegal cough syrup trade in Bellville

A 44-year-old man is behind bars following a crackdown on the illegal sale and distribution of scheduled cough medication in the northern suburbs of Cape Town.

The suspect, identified as a Zimbabwean national, was apprehended on Friday morning in Bellville. Officers from the Public Order Police were conducting routine crime-prevention patrols in the area when they reportedly witnessed the man completing a suspicious transaction.

Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg confirmed that the individual was processed on charges involving the illicit handling of pharmaceuticals. Twigg noted that the vigilance of the members of the Public Order Police led directly to the arrest.

"The 44-year-old suspect will appear in the Bellville Magistrates’ Court on Monday on the mentioned charge," Twigg stated.

The man faces charges related to the illegal sale and possession of controlled and scheduled medication.