April 11 2013 at 08:18am
INLSA
FLOODED: Two residents lie on the ground as Metro police search their homes in Lavender Hill for illegal goods. Metro police launched a two-week-long anti-crime operation yesterday to rid the area of drugs and illegal weapons. Photo: Brenton Geach
Jason Felix
CAPE TOWN Metro Police have retaliated after the murder of traffic officer Wesley Woodman in Lavender Hill by cracking down on drug dens, conducting foot patrols and searching vehicles – an operation set to continue for the next two weeks, making it the longest of its kind.
Yesterday morning – the first day of Operation Choke – two suspects were arrested for the illegal possession of dagga and tik.
The streets of Lavender Hill and Steenberg teemed with police cars as search warrants were executed at various homes. Residents filled the streets as police ran with sniffer dogs.
Woodman was gunned down by two men on Prince George Drive two weeks ago while he was issuing a traffic fine to motorist Shuaib Afradien, 26. Afradien was also killed. Two men have since been arrested.
Metro police chief Wayne Le Roux said Woodman’s death and recent shootings in the area were believed to be gang-related. Le Roux said they decided “to hit back” to send a clear message to gangs: “We will not back down.”
“The information we have received on the ground indicates that the warfare for drug turf will flare up again. We are bringing in more intelligence, deploying more officers to the area and will keep on doing visible patrols.
“We cannot allow our officers to be killed. We are trying our best to clamp down on guns especially… Taxis have become a target because people sit with drugs and guns in taxis.
“We will conduct roadblocks at all entrances to Lavender Hill in the hope of finding drugs,” he said.
Last week, Metro police confiscated three firearms – an AK47, a Z88 9mm handgun and a LM6 assault rifle.
Mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said rewards for information leading to the confiscation of illegal goods would be tabled in the council at the end of the month.
The rewards will vary depending on the quality of the information. “Information that people provide needs to lead to an arrest or confiscation of illegal goods. Money is just print on old paper, people’s lives are worth much more,” he said.
Operation Choke includes traffic officers, the Special Investigating Unit and law enforcement officials. There will also be foot and dog patrols.
Lavender Hill resident Laura Brown, 58, said: “The drugs are a problem in this area. Our children are falling victim to gangs, and we parents are suffering.
“We need more police patrolling the streets, and the shebeens especially. The gangsters are travelling with us in taxis and buses. I don’t know how police will deal with that.”
jason.felix@inl.co.za
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