Netting drug kingpins proving difficult – TMPD
Tshwane metro police believe a kingpin in a recent arrest where a bakery was used as a front could be drawn out, but apprehending kingpins overall was proving unsuccessful.
Moving in on drug kingpins is proving difficult as the sale and use of narcotics continue to plague the area, the Tshwane metro police (TMPD) has said.
TMPD spokesperson Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said various modus operandi were used to peddle drugs in the metro, and the use of seemingly legitimate business fronts is on the increase.
Mahamba told Rekord that recently a bakery in Hammanskraal was busted after an investigation revealed it was used as a front to peddle drugs.
He said TMPD had established that in some cases vendors pretended to sell sweets and other snacks in the streets when their core enterprise was dealing drugs.
Mahamba said he believed the kingpin in the bakery case could be drawn out but added that attempts at apprehending kingpins overall were proving unsuccessful.
“The smaller fishes that we are catching are resistant to identifying their bosses.”
Mahamba said the national prosecuting authority had offered TMPD training on how to strengthen recent cases for heavier sentences.
“Assistance is being offered by the justice department to strengthen statements for more solid cases when in court. We are pleased to have such assistance.”
Mahamba said he believed kingpins would soon be apprehended as this partnership developed.
He said that TMPD was extremely concerned about the peddling of dagga, cocaine, nyaope and crystal meth in the streets of Tshwane.
“Drugs have been a problem in the entire metro,” he said.
“In the past three months, we made our best busts in the Garsfontein area, where drugs worth about R1.5-million were seized and arrests were made after two major breakthroughs.”
He said the police arrested five foreign nationals after a tip-off about a white Suzuki Swift on Atterbury road carrying drugs.
Mahamba said TMPD traced the suspect to his residence wherein four further people were caught in the act packaging heroine (nyaope) and crystal meth estimated at R500 000.
He said in the second incident, 11 foreign nationals were arrested with drugs worth drugs an estimated R700 000
[WATCH] TMPD Drug Unit makes another drug bust to the value of more than R500 000. @TMPDSafety pic.twitter.com/MZV3dbKKyA
— Mayor Cilliers Brink (@tshwane_mayor) December 21, 2022
Mahamba said TMPD made numerous arrests in Centurion, Hammanskraal, Atteridgeville, Wonderboompoort and Pretoria West.
He said TMPD recently announced that it had seized drugs to the value of R95 000.
He said the TMPD drug unit made four arrests in Booysens, Pretoria West, before Christmas following a foreign national being found in possession of R50 000 worth of nyaope and crystal meth, while in Pretoria North, another foreign national was found in possession of crystal meth and Cat to the value of R45 000.
In Soshanguve a couple aged between 40 and 43 was found in possession of 130 packets of crystal meth with an estimated value of R7 000.
In December, TMPD also arrested a 43-year-old foreign national caught red-handed delivering heroin and crystal meth with an estimated street value of close to R40 000 to Pretoria central.
“The problem of drugs is extensive in the metro and we are keeping an eye on it.”
He said TMPD owed its successes to the help of police intelligence and residents’ tip-offs.
“As and when we receive information on drug-riddled areas, we react and we would like to applaud the public for wanting to rid the community of drugs.”
He urged residents to continue assisting the metro police and assured them that the police would keep the identity of those who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation confidential.
Tshwane mayor Randall Williams led an anti-drug and substance abuse outreach programme to Fred Magardie primary school in Eersterust recently.
“The school also faces various challenges that need immediate attention. While we assist where we can as the metro, public schools fall under the responsibility of the Gauteng department of education.”
He said the Tshwane health department had however been driving a strong campaign to assist communities impacted by drugs and substance abuse.
“Drug and substance abuse is a major challenge in our communities and therefore we must work together to protect our young people and families from the destructive impact of substance abuse and drugs.”
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