Gym trainer held in big dagga bust

Police confiscate containers and 100 plants growing in back yard of Lorraine home

THE leafy suburb of Lorraine in Port Elizabeth was abuzz yesterday when police raided a house in Trevor Road and seized scores of containers filled with dagga and 100 dagga plants.

Police arrested the house’s occupant, Dean Sale, 53, an instructor at the nearby Virgin Active gym in Lorraine.

Police spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu said police had confiscated 2.9kg of dagga with an estimated value of R58 000, 100 dagga plants and a small amount of money.

She said the suspect had been charged with cultivating dagga plants and dealing in the drug.

He will appear in court on Tuesday and will remain in custody for now.

Naidu said information had been received from the Kabega Park police station before officers at the Mount Road police station obtained a search warrant.

At about 11am yesterday, police arrived at the house.

Naidu told The Herald while on the scene that there were numerous containers scattered throughout the house with dagga in them and that “if you stand by the front door you can smell it”.

The house in the quiet street behind the Lorraine Gardens shopping complex has the sign “Something Fishy” on it.

The garden is overgrown with tall trees and shrubs.

The Herald did not have permission to enter the property, although the suspect and police officers were visible through the shrubbery.

A police officer on the scene, who cannot be named because he does not have permission to talk to the media, said when they initially started questioning the suspect he had told them he was growing the dagga “for medical reasons”.

The officer confirmed there were a number of dagga plants, which seemed to be “well looked after”, growing in the back yard.

The house, which is owned by Sale’s mother, was still being searched last night as police officers carried out containers filled with dagga.

All the bottles had names on them identifying the strain of the plant it contained.

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, said he was shocked to hear about what had happened.

“I know him, he is a very nice guy – very friendly,” the neighbour said, adding that he had Sale’s number on speed dial and when he went out of town for work, Sale would “look out” for his daughter.

The neighbour’s daughter said it was unbelievable and that she would sometimes go with Sale to the gym in Lorraine where he was a spin-class instructor.

Virgin Active relief manager Costa Peter confirmed Sale worked there and said he was a “nice guy”.

“He was always smiling, seemed happy but a bit quiet,” Peter said.

While police were on the scene, a number of curious motorists drove slowly past the house, looking to see what was happening.

Lorraine DA ward councillor Gustav Rautenbach also arrived on the scene.

He said he was shocked to find out what had happened.

“I am very glad the police discovered this and I hope the suspect will be dealt with appropriately in court,” Rautenbach said.

Another neighbour said he did not know Sale personally but did see him often at the gym.

“I am shocked and surprised,” he said.

Another neighbour said he had noticed police vehicles outside Sale’s house.

“I thought it was something petty like getting a statement or something,” he said, adding that he knew Sale as a friendly person who never made too much noise or bothered anyone in the area.

“You think you know your neighbour,” he quipped.