Durban - A wealthy Chatsworth businessman is believed to be the kingpin behind a massive R41 million drug bust in the upmarket Outer West suburb of Gillitts, at the weekend.
Police are confident of an arrest by the end of the week.
During the raid, police arrested 19 foreigners and confiscated an estimated R41 million worth of Mandrax and heroin, some packed in straws.
This is the largest drug bust in KZN. The drugs were destined for Phoenix, Chatsworth, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, a police source said.
The source said the businessman owned assets worth millions of rand, including vehicles and properties.
The Asset Forfeiture Unit is expected to move in to seize his assets.
He had dodged police for many years, the source said.
“He runs a tight operation. It has been difficult to pin him down. But we are confident he will be arrested this week.”
Equipment used to process and package the drugs was found, including plastic heat sealers, drying trays and UV lights.
The equipment is believed to be worth more than R500 000. The heroin straws were stuck in Oasis foam - used for flower arrangements - and sealed in lots of 30.
The foreign nationals - alleged to be illegal immigrants - are from Swaziland, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
The suspects, aged between 18 and 37, were processing and distributing the drugs nationally from a home in Alexander Drive.
The house is being rented.
When the “workers” were questioned, they claimed they did not even know the name of the area.
The men were busy working when police pounced on Saturday evening.
“It was business as usual and (they were) also in the process of packing the drugs for distribution to other provinces,” the source said. “The place looks like it has been in operation for the past five to 10 years.”
The suspects, according to the source, only left the house to pick up orders or to make a delivery.
“Everything, including food, was brought to them as they worked, which proved difficult for them to run anywhere when police entered the premises,” the source said.
This bust followed an extensive investigation by the national Crime Intelligence Unit, the SAPS Counter Narcotics team and the KZN Hawks.
“The team worked throughout the night packing all the drugs at the house. The operation lasted until late on Monday morning,” the source said.
National police spokesman, Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale, said the team had raided the drug lab on Saturday evening after a tip-off.
“The entire operation, we estimate, has a street value of over R41m, which consists of R21.4m worth of heroin straws, R4.1m of mandrax tablets, R15m of heroin powder, and equipment,” he said.
Makgale said the Gillitts bust was made just days after the same team uncovered a major drug distribution centre in Kempton Park, which was worth R75m.
“We have no doubt that an operation of this magnitude is the work of a syndicate and we believe that we are making great inroads in bringing these major drug syndicates to their knees,” he said.
Provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Mmamonnye Ngobeni, congratulated the team for the breakthrough.
Ngobeni said that it was evident that criminals were preparing themselves for what they saw as an increase in demand for drugs during this festive season.
“We are pleased that the multi-disciplinary approach that we have adopted is bearing fruit and stopping criminals in their tracks. This is the largest drug bust for KwaZulu-Natal and shows that we are turning the tide when it comes to drug dealing,” she said.
The 19 people arrested are expected to appear in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court today on drug dealing charges.
Last month Bolivian medical student Juan Carlos Abizahoa, who had been profiled by Crime Intelligence, was arrested at King Shaka International Airport allegedly with 2kg of pure cocaine worth R600 000 concealed in his suitcase.
The drug stash was allegedly destined for a wealthy Durban businessman.
The student is expected to appear in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court this week.
In October alleged drug mules Lindy Walker, 28, and Abel Hermanus du Plessis, 29, were found in possession of R6.5m of crystal methamphetamine (tik) also at the same airport, police had reported.
Police had acted on a tip-off and arrested the two on their arrival from India. The drugs were allegedly due for delivery in the Point area that same evening.
Daily News