Metro police drug bust after tip-off

Tshwane metro police special projects unit made a drug bust close to Mall@Reds in Centurion on Monday (29 September). Councillor Ina Strijdom informed the special projects unit of drug dealers in her ward, and the need to eradicate the problem.

Sydney de Wet, Inspector at the Tshwane police special projects unit, said they had been investigating the alleged drug dealer for months. “We received reliable information that a taxi driver was dealing heroine from his taxi, close to Mall@Reds. We infiltrated the taxi rank, and found that the information was 100% accurate. We found out that the dealer had a large amount of heroin with him, as well as a revolver.”

After careful planning, the special projects unit raided the taxi rank, and arrested the dealer.

“We recovered 218 small bags of heroin, with an estimated street value of R8 000, as well as an unlicensed firearm. We suspect that the dealer may be working for Nigerian drug lords. When we arrested the dealer, two other men were buying drugs from him, and they were arrested as well,” De Wet said.

All three suspects are to appear in court soon. The two buyers are charged with possession of illegal drugs, and the dealer will be charged with possession and selling of illegal drugs, as well as possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

“I am so thankful that this man was arrested. Illegal drugs are a big problem in my ward, and this man was selling to people living in Valhalla,” said Strijdom.

This is not the first drug bust in which Strijdom was involved. On Friday (26 September) she was part of a drug bust outside the Moeggesukkel drug rehabilitation centre in Raslouw. Two drug dealers were arrested after trying to sell the drug ‘cat’ to people in rehab.