'Crime nest' hotel shut down

2009-01-08 21:32

Johannesburg - A hotel considered to be a hotbed of prostitution and drug dealing in Bloemfontein was raided and closed down on Thursday, Free State police said.

Captain Magda Muller said the closure of the Maitland Hotel came after Safety and Security Minister Nathi Mthethwa visited Bloemfontein on Tuesday and joined a raid at the building.

Police returned on Thursday afternoon and raided the hotel again. The building's entrance was barricaded with barb-wired once all residents had been ordered out.

Muller said about 30 girls, most of them under-age, and 28 men, were taken in for questioning to establish if they were involved in prostitution, drug dealing or related crimes.

The whole block around the hotel was cordoned off during the raid. People and rooms were searched. Two illegal immigrants were arrested and drugs including cocaine and dagga were confiscated.

A pistol was also found inside the building.

- SAPA