END OF THE LINE FOR DRUG BARONS

The arrest of an alleged Western Cape drug kingpin - one of the top
200 crime targets in the country - signals that the days of the
province's high-living drug barons are numbered.

This was the emphatic message from police after the arrest on Monday
of the suspect, believed to be a senior member of the notorious crime
cartel The Firm.

Police also believed they had moved a step closer to shutting down the
suspect's multi-million-rand criminal empire. So far police have
arrested nine alleged members of the syndicate and seized R9-million
worth of drugs.

In continuing undercover operations, police said, they were "hot on
the heels" of two other suspected syndicate members.

They were keeping under surveillance other individuals who were part
of 31 drug syndicates operating in the Western Cape and were confident
of more high-profile arrests. Western Cape crime figures run 32 known
drug syndicates, over half the 65 identified countrywide.

The 33-year-old suspect was arrested on Monday after the organised
crime unit raided an Elsies River house and confiscated 100 000
Mandrax tablets with a street value of about R3,5-million.

Police declined to name the arrested man for fear of jeopardising
continuing investigations.

Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula said at a press briefing
on Monday that the bust arose from continuing investigations into the
activities of drug syndicates operating in the Western Cape.

"The first breakthrough into the illegal activities of this specific
syndicate came when Western Cape police arrested three people and
confiscated drugs with a street value of R3,2-million in Kuils River
during May 2003.

"Ongoing investigations led police to arrest a further three people
attached to the same syndicate in Leeu-Gamka on May 26 this year and
police confiscated drugs worth R2-million," Nqakula said.

The alleged drug kingpin arrested on Monday was one of the Western
Cape's 32 "high-flyers" and on the national top 200 list.

"The reason for going for the high-flyers is that it will go a long
way in dealing with their foot soldiers," he said.

Asked if authorities were winning the war against drugs, Nqakula said:
"The forces that represent the good are more than those involved in
criminal activities and we are winning against criminality.

"This (the raid) was not the work of the police alone, but ordinary
peace-loving citizens. Police got a tip-off for this particular bust.
We continue to appeal to people to assist us."

Nqakula admitted it was difficult for authorities to estimate the
scale of drug trafficking.

"The cases we successfully investigate will indicate to some extent
how much drugs are circulating in the Western Cape."

Provincial Commissioner Mzwandile Petros said the suspect was an
alleged distributor. "Some of these syndicates are linked through gang
affiliation and others operate on their own. He is somewhere near the
top (of the list)," said Petros.

Police were also closing in on tik-tik (crystal methamphetamine)
dealers.

Deputy national commissioner Andre Pruis said police and government
departments were working on "mini drug masterplans" that would form
part of a revised national masterplan, under the auspices of the
Central Drug Authority.