Johannesburg - Seven men alleged to have been impersonating police officers in the past, planting drugs at their victims’ houses and later robbing them have been arrested.
Six of the men were arrested in Langlaagte on Wednesday when their would-be victim, a Chinese businessman, saw them scaling over his wall through CCTV cameras. The seventh man was arrested on Thursday after he was pointed out by one of the six.
The businessman quickly called the police. Officers who responded found that the six men were not on their own but were with three Flying Squad officers.
While the six men were in plainclothes and driving in two unmarked vehicles, the three Flying Squad officers were in full uniform and a marked car.
The officers who responded to the man’s call found that the six men were wanted for a spate of robberies around Joburg.
The officers asked the Flying Squad officers what was going on. In trying to explain their presence at the scene, the three officers allegedly said the six men were informers who had told them there were drugs at the house.
When the police pressed for answers, the Flying Squad officers allegedly changed their tune and said the six men were members of the Crime Intelligence Unit from head office.
According to police spokesman Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale, the men’s modus operandi was to plant drugs at their victims’ houses and then rob them of cash. They targeted foreigners and sometimes used a fake search warrant or bogus documents they alleged were from the South African Revenue Service, he said.
“They are linked to six similar cases in Randburg, Joburg Central, Sinoville and Yeoville.”
In the latest incident, they allegedly accused the businessman of having drugs in the house and forced him to give them cash.
“The Flying Squad officers have not been arrested as we are still investigating their role in this,” said Makgale.
The Star