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."