Durban - A Chatsworth drug syndicate was dealt a major blow when its South Coast base was raided and R7 million worth of heroin was seized. Ten people were arrested.
Police from the Hawks in KwaZulu-Natal raided five of the syndicate’s drug houses simultaneously, four of them in Kharwastan, Chatsworth, on Tuesday morning.
The raid on a plush home in Margate allegedly caught staff packaging the drugs for supply to dealers on the streets of Durban.
A source said two South African nationals and eight foreigners were arrested. He said the syndicate was a major role-player in the supply and distribution in suburbs throughout Durban. The source said it was hoped the bust would dent the drug business.
In a simultaneous raid, police stormed four houses in Kharwastan.
They searched them, cars on the properties and used police dogs to sniff the surrounding bushes for drugs. No arrests were made in Chatsworth but police seized cellphones and laptops.
The raid could be linked to heroin worth R20m seized by metro police in January. The syndicate allegedly travelled down the South Coast daily.
The Hawks seized heat sealers, cutting machines and electronic scales. The police forensics unit wore special suits to clear the Margate house late into on Tuesday night.
The men were expected to appear in court on Wednesday.
The source said that because of pressure from police and the community, drug syndicates had moved out of suburbs to avoid detection. The identity of the owner of the apparently R1-million home was not revealed to the media. Neither was the house’s exact location.
It was known, however, to be in an upmarket suburb with high walls making it difficult for neighbours to see what was happening.
But this is not the first time a posh residential area has formed a backdrop to criminal activity.
In November, two men were arrested at the Middelburg Toll Plaza after being found in possession of 600 000 ecstasy tablets worth R85m.
The same night, police raided a Westville house, allegedly belonging to the men.
Police found chemicals used in the manufacturing of drugs, particularly cocaine.
In July police seized a pressing and drying machine and chemicals, believed to be used in the manufacture of mandrax, in a building adjoining a Waterfall house in River View Drive.
In a June 24 raid, police had initially thought they had found pure heroin worth R3 billion at a Kloof location but forensic analysis revealed that the drugs were methaqualone, worth about R32m.
The investigations revealed that the house contained 2 800 litres of methaqualone in pure sludge form and 45kg in powder form.
In the same month police raided a La Lucia home for drugs after receiving a tip-off that heroin was being stored there.
Daily News