Crime Line arrests : November 2007
Police have closed down a drug manufacturing plant in Sandton, Gauteng – thanks to an anonymous tip-off to Primedia’s Crime Line. At the same time, eight people have been arrested in the Western Cape and thousands of rands of drugs have been seized over recent weeks following a series of raids. Police acted on tip-offs to the 32211 SMS number from members of the community.
Over the past month, 21 individuals have been arrested in Gauteng and the Western Cape as a result of tip-offs to Crime Line which were followed up by members of the South African Police Service. Goods - including drugs, motor vehicles, electronic equipment and a firearm – worth R500 000 were seized by police during these operations. This brings the total number of arrests since June 2007 to 274 and the total amount of goods confiscated to R17 million.
Eight people were arrested in the Western Cape as a result of Crime Line tip-offs, five for dealing in drugs, two for possession of stolen property and one for selling liquor to minors. During raids in Hermanus, Bellville, Strandfontein, Mitchells Plein, Woodstock and Manenberg, drugs such as cocaine, tik, dagga and heroin were seized by police members. Two men were arrested in Table View after information was received via Crime Line’s web site on persons acting suspiciously at an address in Wingate Crescent, Sunningdale. Two men were arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen property and lap-top computers, digital cameras and a Blackberry to the value of R51 000 were seized by police.
On Wednesday 7 November 2007, police closed down a drug manufacturing plant in Sandton, Gauteng after receiving an SMS tip-off through Crime Line. Three men, aged 23 years, 27 years and 28 years, were arrested at a house in Gibson Drive West, Buccleuch and drugs valued at R50 000 were seized. The drugs confiscated included 15 grams of ecstasy, 74 grams of CAT and 49 grams of cocaine.
“Investigations are still on-going,” said Director Sally de Beer.
Two cases of contravening the copyright act were registered in Gauteng, one in Cleveland and one in Sophiatown. During these police raids, as a result of Crime Line information, three men were arrested and R25 000 worth of fake DVD’s and electronic equipment were seized.
Crime Line was also indirectly responsible for the arrest of five people in Dobsonville for being in possession of suspected stolen property amounting to R15 000. Members of the Gauteng Provincial Task Team were following up information on drug dealing in Dobsonville, which proved to be negative, when they were approached by security personnel who were searching for suspects in a red Golf motor vehicle. The police reservists of the Task Team located the Golf and searched premises where television sets, watches, shoes, DVD’s and jewelllery (thought to be stolen property) were confiscated. Four men and a woman were arrested and police investigations continue.
Another noteworthy success in Gauteng was the recovery of a stolen Chrysler Station Wagon in Brooklyn, Pretoria. An anonymous SMS reported that the vehicle had been abandoned at a block of flats. Upon investigation, police found the vehicle, worth
R325 000 and established that it had, in fact, been reported stolen and that the registration number had been changed.
“The South African Police Service thanks the members of the community who submitted the tips that led to these arrests. Each and every criminal that is taken off our streets is a victory for the honest and law abiding members of our community,” said de Beer.
