Metro Police shut down employee’s illegal ‘side hustle’
08 February 2021
The suspect was arrested for drug dealing at work – he is one of 164 arrests made by the City’s enforcement agencies in the last week.
Metro Police officers put paid to an employee’s side hustle when they arrested him at his workplace last week.
Officers received a tip off about drug dealing at a business premises in Ottery and followed up.
The manager gave them permission to conduct a search, and the 34-year-old suspect was found in possession of four Ziploc bags of tik, and 11 units of heroin. He was taken into custody and detained at Grassy Park SAPS.
‘We receive numerous tip offs from the public, resulting in arrests like this one. I commend those residents who contribute meaningfully to the fight against crime, often at great personal risk. Far too many criminals operate in a manner that suggests they believe they are untouchable or that they will not be caught – with communities working hand in hand with enforcement agencies, we will be able to get far more criminals behind bars,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
The arrest was one of 57 made by the Metro Police Department in the last week. Officers also issued 3 655 fines for various transgressions.
Some of the department’s other successes included:
The arrest of a suspect on the R300 on Thursday 4 February 2021. Officers spotted an Audi standing on the side of the road, and pulled over. When they approached the vehicle, they saw a person lying in the bushes close by, brandishing a panga. The motorist informed the officers that the suspect was in the process of robbing him when he noticed the patrol car approaching and hid in the bushes. He was arrested for possession of a dangerous weapon and detained at Delft SAPS.
The recovery of a hijacked vehicle in Khayelitsha on Wednesday, 3 February 2021. Officers were notified of the hijacking and a description of the vehicle. They found the car at a carwash in the area. Even though it had already been fitted with false license plates, officers confirmed that it was the stolen vehicle, using the VIN number. The car was taken to Harare SAPS and returned to the rightful owner.
The City’s Law Enforcement Department made 92 arrests and issued 4 939 notices, while the Cape Town Traffic Service arrested 15 suspects - six for driving under the influence of alcohol, five for Reckless/Negligent driving and four on various other charges.
Officers also impounded 26 vehicles, 64 cell phones and issued 69 347 fines.
Meanwhile the Traffic Service has also been made aware of yet another apparent licensing scam, where persons are charging thousands of rand to facilitate learner and driving license documents, as well as professional driving permits.
‘These types of scams are not new, but they are incredibly damaging, because it means people getting behind the wheel without having undergone the approved tests. While those operating these scams are putting themselves at risk of arrest, so too are those using these services. Anyone caught with fake documents will be arrested and prosecuted on charges of fraud.
‘More importantly, the actual cost of transacting at our Driving License Testing Centres is far less, so it makes no sense to part with so much money and run the risk of a criminal record. Our staff at our testing centres are working extra hours over weekends to accommodate more clients. I urge the public to go through the right channels instead of trying to find shortcuts that could have dire consequences if caught,’ said Alderman Smith.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
