Pubdate: Sat, 13 Sep 2008
Source: Independent on Saturday, The (South Africa)
Copyright: 2008 The Independent on Saturday
Contact: http://www.tios.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=3005
Website: http://www.tios.co.za/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4608
Page 3
Author: Fiona Gounden

WAR ON DRUG DEALERS

NPA Seizes 24 Homes, Vehicles

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has declared war on 
KwaZulu-Natal drug dealers as 24 have had their homes, vehicles and 
other assets confiscated since May.

The NPA statement this week said that some of them have had their 
bank accounts frozen as well.

Meanwhile, police are working on leads and conducting interviews in 
an attempt to get to the bottom of Sunday's M-Net Carte Blanche 
programme of alleged corrupt police officers involved in the scourge 
of the drug, 'Sugars', in Chatsworth.

The investigative programme questioned why dealers who were selling 
Sugars were not being caught and said policemen were openly taking bribes.

Sam Pillay, the chairman of the Anti-Drug Forum, was interviewed and 
said more intervention was needed. Other people alleged the Sugars 
epidemic in Chatsworth was "as a result of the co-operation between 
known drug dealers and crooked police officers".

A resident, who lives near the house believed to be the centre of 
Chatsworth's drug trade, said the home belonged to a man out on bail 
after being charged with killing another drug dealer.

A police officer from the Bayview Police Station in Chatsworth told 
Carte Blanche he witnessed corruption at the station on a daily basis.

Reacting to the programme, Snr Supt Jay Naicker said they were going 
to speak to these sources and gather as much information as possible.

"We are investigating many drug dealers and we are also involved in a 
number of projects to clamp down on drugs. These are serious claims 
and we definitely want to catch these culprits."

Meanwhile, Pillay said they were waiting for some positive feedback 
following the programme.

"We hope that something can finally be done about these crooked cops. 
If these drug dealers don't have help from them then we would not 
have such a major problem with drugs."

Referring to the asset seizures NPA spokesman Tlali Tlali said the 
NPA was sick of drug dealers poisoning the youth and warned others 
that they should prepare to have their assets seized.

Homes

"Drug dealers must be warned that their homes can be seized in two 
instances. In the first case the house can be used as an instrument 
of the offence where drug manufacturing and dealing takes place at 
the home. Therefore courts have a right to seize the home.

"Secondly, the home could have been gained from the proceeds of 
crime, including drug dealing."

Any other assets that are suspected to have been gained from the sale 
of drugs would be seized, warned Tlali.

"Drug dealers must be warned that their bank accounts will also be 
frozen and vehicles will be taken away. Once they are seized the 
court of law will decide what to do with them."

The Chatsworth Anti-Drug Forum fully supports the decision, said Pillay.

"We welcome this ruling by the NPA as it is indeed going to be a 
deterrent. Chatsworth drug dealers are causing major problems with the youth."
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