FILE PICTURE: Brothers in drugs, John Beasley (34) and Paul Beasley (29) of U.K appearing at Phoenix magistrate court where they were charged for dealing and possesing hashish and heroin.
Photograph by: TEBOGO LETSIE

Captain Devandran Moodley, a police detective, said in an affidavit presented to the Verulam Magistrate's Court that Gopal Ganesh, Moganathan Nadasen and Perumal Naidoo, and British citizens Paul and John Beasley, and Paul Bromley, should not be allowed bail.

"They have contacts overseas, and certainly associates who might be very willing to assist them in order to safeguard their own interests."

The men are charged with possession of, and dealing in, heroin and hashish worth R600-million. Ganesh and Bromley will apply for bail today. Their co-accused have abandoned their bail bids.

Bromley is the "leading accused" in a sophisticated drug-smuggling operation based in Phoenix, northern Durban.

Moodley said he believed there were more drugs and that the suspects would try to hide them if granted bail, and that they would interfere with witnesses.

He said the five other accused told him that Bromley had threatened their lives and their families, and demanded that they refuse to co-operate with the state.

But Bromley denies dealing in drugs and said that the 4g of cocaine found on him was for "personal use".

In his bail application, Ganesh claimed that he registered the company SA Curio Cultural Supply, which was linked to a consignment of heroin seized at London's Heathrow Airport on September 9, as a favour to Naidoo, who had a poor credit rating and no knowledge of the drugs.