Mozambican police detained three men in Angoche district and Nampula city for hashish trafficking.[1] Two of the three detained men are father and son.[1] One of the three is a repeat offender who had previously been caught with 28 kg of drugs and returned to society after winning his court case.[1] The three detainees each gave their own version of involvement and all appeared repentant.[1]
Police seized about 187 kilograms of hashish from the three men.[1] Officers first seized 7 kg in Nampula city when a 23-year-old was caught selling in the Muhala-belenenses neighbourhood, then traced 180 kg hidden by two other members of the same group in Angoche, recovering it and detaining its owners.[1] At seizure the 187 kg was disguised in small 1 kg packages whose owners claimed were animal vitamins, which examination showed was hashish.[1]
Nampula police spokesman Inácio João Dina said the origin of the drug was still unknown.[1] The detainees indicated the hashish reaches Angoche by a boat anchored miles offshore and is then moved to Angoche city by contracted boats.[1] Dina described it as a large drug-trafficking circuit of which the seized drugs are only a small part, with the onward destination after Angoche still unknown.[1] Police said the seizure resulted from operational work intensified in recent days mainly in Nampula city amid rising crime.[1] Police said investigative work was continuing.[1]