By Lumka Oliphant and Siphiwe Mpye
If you thought that the dumbest criminals were only in America, think again. This week we found - and bust - one in Hillbrow.
An alleged Nigerian drug dealer distributes "advertising" flyers by pinning them on car windscreens around shopping malls. On the copied flyers are the words: "For any stuff of drug, call the number below", and his cellphone number is included.
After a reader alerted us, we followed up, even though it was hard to believe a criminal would be so stupid as to leave his contact number.
| 'The community are our eyes and ears' |
When we called the number on the flyer, the man who answered the phone confirmed that he was indeed a drug dealer who could "organise anything".
After speaking to "Mike", we alerted Amanda Roestoff of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and made an appointment to meet the man at a designated spot in Hillbrow, a service station.
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For two grams of cocaine, he would charge R600, he said. As agreed with him and with the help of undercover SAPS members we headed for the service station.
We phoned him to tell him that we were waiting for him. Looking a bit nervous, he came with his brother to negotiate that we go somewhere else and do the deal because the garage "was too open".
"This place is not safe, you can even come to my flat and have a smoke there," Mike tried to convince us. We refused.
| 'For a drug dealer to blatantly advertise hard drugs is shocking' |
He looked more interested in the money and demanded to be shown the cash before he would do anything.
His brother left to fetch the goods and Mike stayed in the car and chatted about his business.
"I operate in clubs and normally my girls do the job on the ground. I was very nervous when you called because I don't know you and I had told the girls to stop distributing the cards.
"I do not normally deal here because some of our customers come with the police," he said ironically.
He related a sob story of how he came to South Africa for "the good life" but could not find a job and now was forced to deal in drugs.
"There are no jobs here, you know. I need to pay the bills, I need to live and get my business in Nigeria operational. Maybe I must get a wife here and take her to my country," he continued.
His brother came and demanded the money and when we asked where the "stuff" was, he showed us the wrapped cocaine concealed in his mouth.
Money and drugs exchanged hands and the SAPS members pounced. The brothers were both arrested and will appear in court soon.
SAPS Assistant Commissioner Oswald Reddy said: "We offered our expertise to ensure that these men will face the full wrath of the law. Saturday Star - thank you for informing us and giving us the opportunity to act! We salute you!"
He said the co-operation between the media and police emphasised that these problems could be addressed through proper communication.
"The community are our eyes and ears too."
The man who tipped off Saturday Star could not believe the cheekiness on the part of the alleged dealer.
"I don't mind people smoking a joint now and then, but for a drug dealer to blatantly advertise hard drugs is shocking," he said.
- This article was originally published on page 1 of Saturday Star on June 19, 2004
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