About 100 law enforcement officers from various divisions including the Johannesburg Flying Squad, Gauteng Traffic Police and the elite Tactical Response Team (TRT), conducted a sting operation at the Bree Taxi Rank on 1 June in an effort to combat rampant crime in the area.
Johannesburg Central Police spokesperson Captain Xoli Mbele said the efforts were intended to promote police visibility in the area.
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“The Bree Taxi Rank has been identified by the police as a hotspot for drug activity and stolen property. Stolen cellphones are known to be in circulation there. About six suspects were arrested on drug-related charges and small quantities of drugs retrieved during the hour-long operation,” said Mbele.
Meanwhile, a high-ranking police official from the provincial Crack Trio Task Team, whose identity cannot be revealed, informed City Buzz that the operation was an impromptu police exercise and would span a number of Johannesburg suburbs. “We are roving all over Johannesburg and the province to conduct similar sting operations,” he said.
“We made several arrests in connection with drug-related offences in Rosebank. A raid was also conducted at the Palm Springs Mall in the Vaal.”
The official said that drug dealers operating at the Bree Taxi Rank were unfazed by the police raids. He alleged that it is a known fact that a number of officers collude with them. He added that the public’s general lack of confidence in the police makes it all the more difficult to deal with crime. Speaking on further efforts to combat crime, he said hijacked buildings in the inner city were next on the agenda. This follows a recent report of a gang rape that occurred in an abandoned building on Lilian Ngoyi Street.
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He said, “I think our visibility actually helps to obstruct criminals from committing even petty crimes.” He said the team will conduct searches of dilapidated buildings as it is part of their responsibility. “We are simply trying to assist the clusters and stations.”
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