Cape Town - A former gang kingpin and three other men were arrested on Thursday after police stopped and searched three luxury vehicles near Canal Walk, confiscating millions of rand worth of contraband in the process.
It is understood from sources in law enforcement that the former gang leader is Rashied Staggie, who used to be a leader of the Hard Livings gang and served over a decade in jail for kidnapping and ordering the rape of a Manenberg woman.
He also served time for the theft of weapons from the Faure police station but was paroled and claimed to have turned over a new leaf.
Hawks spokesman Lieutenant Lloyd Ramovha said on Friday morning members from the Hawks Narcotics Unit and Crime Intelligence arrested four suspects on Thursday while following up on leads relating to a recent SAPS theft case in Joburg.
He said three luxury vehicles driving in a convoy on N1 near Canal Walk were stopped and searched. Four suspects, aged between 20 and 60, were arrested after three handguns, several boxes of expensive whiskey and cigars were found in their possession.
Staggie is the twin of a former Hard Livings leader Rashaad, who was burnt and killed by People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (Pagad) in 1996.
Rashied Staggie was jailed in 2003 for 15 years for his part in the kidnapping and rape and served 11 years in prison.
In 2004 he was sentenced to a further 13 years for stealing firearms from a police armoury, the sentences ran concurrently.
Staggie was released on day parole in September 2013, but was rearrested in December and had his day parole revoked after he was found to have made unauthorised visits. He was again released on parole in 2014.
The four are expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court soon.
Cape Argus