A RECENT dramatic
two hour drug-bust
led to the arrest of five
Congolese immigrants and a confession from one South African citizen
in Station Road Observatory.
Undercover cops from the Claremont's Crime Intelligence unit watched the drug house at 17 Station Road for two weeks, following the suspected drug dealers, and watching their movements. One of the undercover cops said that he received information from drug addicts that the house in Station Road supplied the drug dealers in Lower Main Road.
One of the undercover cops bought drugs from the suspected dealer who lived in the house that they raided, which verified their investigation.
Three men were arrested and taken to the Woodstock police station, and two women were not searched at the premises, because there wasn't a female cop on duty, and they were transported in an unmarked police vehicle to the precinct to be searched by a female police officer, while the third told the undercover cop that she "wanted to talk," and got into his vehicle.
Six undercover cops raided the home and turned the content of the house upside down.
Undercover cops from the Claremont's Crime Intelligence unit watched the drug house at 17 Station Road for two weeks, following the suspected drug dealers, and watching their movements. One of the undercover cops said that he received information from drug addicts that the house in Station Road supplied the drug dealers in Lower Main Road.
One of the undercover cops bought drugs from the suspected dealer who lived in the house that they raided, which verified their investigation.
Three men were arrested and taken to the Woodstock police station, and two women were not searched at the premises, because there wasn't a female cop on duty, and they were transported in an unmarked police vehicle to the precinct to be searched by a female police officer, while the third told the undercover cop that she "wanted to talk," and got into his vehicle.
Six undercover cops raided the home and turned the content of the house upside down.
Walking into the
home, a strong stench made its way through from the kitchen area,
which may have been old food. Bases of mattresses were ripped open,
clothes scattered on the floor, TV's opened, eventually finding
stashes of, what an the highest ranking undercover cop said was, the
potent type of marijuana, and cocaine in the fireplace and the
dustbin. The cocaine was wrapped in a white plastic bag with street
value of about R200 to R300, and the marijuana, was valued at R150
per bank bag, of which they had fifteen bank bags, and a plastic bag
full of marijuana amounting to over 50 bags.
Two weeks prior to this raid, another search was conducted at the same house, and the cops found 63g of Chrystal meth. No arrests were made, as there were no drugs found on the suspects themselves, but the suspected dealers weren't as lucky the second time around, when police found drugs on them.
With the first raid, the estate agency which is leasing the home, two doors from their offices, Rose Eedes Properties, were unaware and were only made aware of the second bust by the landlord, who happened to be passing through the area. Diane, the rental agent, said that the man leasing the premises was in Congo at the time, but arrived back in South Africa the day after the raid. She said that this was strange, because she had called to see him before, but he said he was unable to come down to South Africa.
Two weeks prior to this raid, another search was conducted at the same house, and the cops found 63g of Chrystal meth. No arrests were made, as there were no drugs found on the suspects themselves, but the suspected dealers weren't as lucky the second time around, when police found drugs on them.
With the first raid, the estate agency which is leasing the home, two doors from their offices, Rose Eedes Properties, were unaware and were only made aware of the second bust by the landlord, who happened to be passing through the area. Diane, the rental agent, said that the man leasing the premises was in Congo at the time, but arrived back in South Africa the day after the raid. She said that this was strange, because she had called to see him before, but he said he was unable to come down to South Africa.
The locks on the
doors were immediately changed, and an immediate eviction notice was
served to the former tenant.
Diane said that
they kept a sign in book, to monitor the collection of items from the
house by the former tenants family. On one occasion three women
signed in at the Rose Eedes reception desk, to collect the furniture
from the house, shortly after, Natalie Mentz, secretary at Rose Eedes
Properties, took the insurance guy to inspect the property. To her
surprise, five men were shouting in the house and then had a go at
her, asking her "where is my money?". She said she was so
frightened that she left the property. Diane said that they found
beer and cider courts in the fridges, and heard from friends of the
accused, that they were selling liquor from the house.
*The
raid seemed to filter through Obs drug trade, exposing the lines of
communication between the drug dealers when, shortly
after the arrests, a smartly dressed man walked up to the house. He
claimed to be the brother of one of the men who was arrested. He
looked worried, and immediately phoned around.
Later, ObsLife witnessed suspected drug-dealers, who we have seen dealing in Lower Main Road, outside Cozy Bar, walk towards the house. A homeless man, who usually washes the cars in Station Road, warned the man who was approaching the house, that the police are on the look and that he "must be careful." The suspected drug dealer then turned up Oxford Road instead of proceeding towards the just raided house.
Later, ObsLife witnessed suspected drug-dealers, who we have seen dealing in Lower Main Road, outside Cozy Bar, walk towards the house. A homeless man, who usually washes the cars in Station Road, warned the man who was approaching the house, that the police are on the look and that he "must be careful." The suspected drug dealer then turned up Oxford Road instead of proceeding towards the just raided house.
The
Claremont Crime Intelligent unit assists with Woodstock and Mowbray
operations when need arises.
The
statement received from Hilton Malila, Media liaison officer at the
Woodstock precinct read as follows: "The
arrest follows after the members received and followed up on
information obtained about illegal activities at the Station road
home . Upon arrival, police members found five people in the house.
During a searching of the premises they confiscated a plastic bag
filled with dagga, 15 bank bags dagga and a white plastic bag
containing cocaine. The estimated street value of the drugs
confiscated is plus/ minus R5000-00.
The suspects arrested made their first court appearance in the Cape Town magistrates court , on 28 January 2013 and was released on bail. They will appear again on 8 March 2013. The amount of bail paid is not yet known to the police."
The suspects arrested made their first court appearance in the Cape Town magistrates court , on 28 January 2013 and was released on bail. They will appear again on 8 March 2013. The amount of bail paid is not yet known to the police."
