Police in Alexandra said they need the public’s help to crack down on drug dealers operating in the community.

For years, Alexandra has been plagued by the scourge of drug abuse, which has devastated the lives of many young people and fuelled rising crime levels, according to some residents. But despite numerous efforts, local police are struggling to target those at the top of the drug distribution chain, largely because residents are not providing information or tip-offs about the trade.

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Station Commander Brigadier Vusimuzi Ngubane said while arrests are being made, they are not striking at the heart of the problem.

“We need information about drugs. We do arrest people involved in dealing, but we are not successful because we are only catching the runners; we are not catching the main people. So, we are not yet making any impact,” he explained.

Ngubane said even after they are arrested and are in custody, suspects who distribute drugs and collect cash on behalf of the main dealers are often too afraid to share information that could lead to major busts.

“They are scared, they would tell you, ‘I am scared, these people can even kill me.’ But what we do not want to do is put them on the spot; we just want anonymous tip-offs.”

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He emphasised that police have no interest in putting people’s lives in danger, which is why they continue to stress that anyone with information can share tip-offs anonymously. “It will help us. But people do not want to come forward,” he said.

As a way forward, Ngubane said police must now reach out to the community to explain how anonymous tip-offs work, reassuring the residents that their safety will be protected.

He believes that if the public understands the process, they will be more willing to assist.

Police hope that stronger community cooperation will help dismantle drug networks and reduce the devastating impact of drugs on Alexandra’s youth.

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