Cops claim crime ring smashed
2004-10-24 23:24
Ziegfried Ekron
Cape Town - The suspected leader of one of the country's biggest crime syndicates was taken into custody this weekend after the police had systematically exposed the network during the past week.
Captain Elna de Beer said leaders of the unit against organised crime arrested the 35-year-old man, one of the country's 200 most-wanted criminals, at his home on Friday evening.
He is suspected to be the leader of a syndicate involved in drug and perlemoen (abalone) smuggling, gang violence, murder and the Chinese Mafia, among other things.
According to De Beer, the police arrested a further three people in connection with the syndicate on Friday evening.
Since Thursday, police have taken a total of 14 people into custody in connection with the syndicate.
Among them are the man's wife and a former police officer. De Beer said the police were still searching for others.
Property valued at R8m
According to her, police took possession of a luxury car in which one of the suspects apparently had wanted to escape.
Apart from the car, the asset forfeiture unit "has also taken possession of 13 properties and 28 vehicles apparently used by the syndicate.
The combined value of all the property is estimated at about R8m.
De Beer said the arrests were the result of more than 18 months' work to bring the alleged leaders of the crime ring to book.
She said the investigation was a joint effort by the police, the asset forfeiture unit and a firm of auditors.
All those arrested are due to appear in Bellville magistrate's court on Monday on charges of contravening the prevention of organised crime act.
- Die Burger