Pretoria – A senior police officer alleged to be involved in an elaborate scheme with drug dealers was arrested at the Sophiatown police station in Johannesburg on Monday, national police said.
It is alleged that the officer, a 51-year-old colonel in charge of visible policing operations at the Sophiatown station, acted in cahoots with drug dealers in various Johannesburg suburbs.
“Intelligence and investigations revealed that he was helping the suspected drug dealers betray their clients and evade police arrest,” police spokesman Vish Naidoo said.
“It is alleged that after a client purchased drugs from the suspects, they would give the police officer a tip-off. The police officer would then organise a raid on the clients, seize the drugs but free the clients in exchange for a bribe.”
The colonel would then allegedly return the drugs to the dealers, in return for kickbacks.
Four drug dealers, aged between 29 and 63, were also arrested.
All five suspects would appear in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court soon on charges of drug dealing and corruption.
Naidoo said they expected more arrests soon.
Responding to the arrests, national police commissioner Riah Phiyega said: “As much as it is appalling that a senior officer of our organisation is alleged to be involved in such horrendous deeds, I am ecstatic that our people were able to identify him and others and bring them to account.”
ANA