A 44-year-old motorist effectively led cops straight to a stash of drugs hidden behind his fridge – after inviting them to follow him home.
According to the City of Cape Town, Metro Police officers pulled the man over just after 12:30 on Sunday, 23 November while conducting a routine traffic stop in Strand.
When asked for identification, the man claimed he had left his documents at home and suggested that police accompany him to fetch them.
Once inside the residence, officers noted that the man suddenly appeared nervous. Nonetheless, he denied that he was hiding anything illicit and gave the officers permission to search his premises.
That search quickly backfired.
Behind the fridge, the officers discovered a plastic bag containing 54.46 grams of tik and 603 Mandrax tablets.
The drugs were confiscated and the suspect was arrested on charges of possession. He was subsequently detained at the Lwandle police station.
Cape Town crackdown
The Strand man’s arrest formed part of a broader enforcement effort over the past week, during which the City’s enforcement agencies arrested 348 suspects and seized significant quantities of Mandrax.
While on foot patrol at the Bellville taxi rank on Saturday, Metro Police officers spotted three men appearing to conduct a drug deal.
When approached, the group tried to flee, but officers caught one of them and found 591 Mandrax tablets hidden in his backpack. The 33-year-old was arrested on the spot and taken to Bellville SAPS for further investigation.
“Drugs continue to flood our streets, and many of our recent successes involve confiscating large quantities from individuals,” said the City’s Mayco member for Safety and Security, JP Smith.
“The same gangs that are selling drugs are fuelling the gang violence in our communities, and by shutting down these networks, we can make our streets and communities safer if given the opportunity.”
Metro cops also issued 2 920 fines this past week, while on the roads, Traffic Officers recorded 64 446 offences and impounded 260 public transport vehicles. Of the 58 road offenders arrested, 51 were for driving under the influence.
