Pubdate: Thu, 18 Dec 2003 Source: Cape Argus (South Africa) Copyright: 2003 Cape Argus. Contact: http://capeargus.co.za/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2939 Authors: Jophan Schonen And Myolisi Gophe DRUG BLITZ HITS TRAINS With an early-morning blitz today, police and Metrorail launched a fight to reclaim peak-hour commuter trains from druglords and robbers who stalk it as their turf. Community safety MEC Leonard Ramatlakane went along for the ride on the wild side - in which one suspect dived from a moving train to escape police. Ramatlakane said the surprise raids would become a regular occurrence over the holidays. He joined forces on the Khayelitsha line, where trains were stopped and commuters searched at Philippi station and Nolungile station in Khayelitsha. Police seized a big haul of dagga, Mandrax and Ecstasy tablets from drug pushers. A well-dressed man, believed to be a drug dealer, dived out of the moving train through an open window at Mutual Station near Pinelands when police descended. He got away. A stash of drugs was found in a bag under his seat. Commuter unit officer Captain Benny van Rhyn said drug-dealing on trains was one of their biggest headaches and fuelled other crime in coaches, including robbery and assault. Metrorail regional manager Andre Harrison said train drivers regularly complained of being "smoked out" by dagga fumes seeping into their cabs. Van Rhyn said drug dealers were known to be regular commuters on the train. Big pushers claimed specific trains as their turf and forced other dealers and their runners out to protect their captive market. Ramatlakane, who has boasted that he "walks the talk" when it comes to fighting crime, said he had decided today to "ride the talk" when he boarded a packed train between Nolungile and Philippi stations to see for himself what commuters experienced. When police, Metro security and a media contingent boarded a Khayelitsha-bound train from Cape Town station shortly after 4am it became clear why crime thrived on trains. The coach shared by the officer commanding the operation, Director Gys Boonzaaier, had no lights, several doors locked or barred and many windows missing. At times it was so dark in the coach you could not discern the person next to you. Two dealers were spotted in the coach, one the man who bailed out of the window. The other was found with a bank bag full of dagga. Police found at least two men carrying registered pistols, one of which was cocked and had a bullet in the chamber ready to be fired. Ramatlakane said today's operation was part of the broader "Safety on Trains" programme he had launched two weeks ago. "Our efforts will help the Western Cape become the safest place this festive season," he said. "We will not allow an environment where there is a free-for-all exchange of drugs on trains. "This operation will become a regular feature during this (festive) time because we want our people to feel safe as they carry their year-end earnings home." Commuters were divided about the merits. Some claimed the operation was a waste of time and should have been held in the afternoon when the worst crimes took place. Others shouted at Ramatlakane, objecting to the search. But other commuters felt it would make them safe. l Cable theft on the Mitchell's Plain and Simon's Town lines made trains late. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman