Intense raids to calm Hanover Park
Metro police search people during a raid at several Hanover Park council houses that have been identified as drug dens. Photo: Neil Baynes Metro police search people during a raid at several Hanover Park council houses that have been identified as drug dens. Photo: Neil Baynes
Six people were arrested in Hanover Park in the space of two hours on drug-related charges, as metro police descended on the area.
The operation, which took place between 8pm and 10pm on Thursday night, was in response to the community’s pleas to law enforcement to rid the area of drugs, but also to stabilise the area recently described by Community Safety MEC Dan Plato as the “most violent” place on the Cape Flats.
A woman was arrested after officers searched her council house, being used as a tuck shop and games arcade, and found 36 units of heroin.
So-called “rocks” to the value of R50 000 and tik had been found in her kitchen three months ago, said metro police acting chief Wayne Le Roux.
He said that at another house, officers had dismantled a television and found the back filled with drugs.
A search at a third address led to the arrests of two men for the possession of dagga. The council property was thick with dagga smoke when the authorities closed in.
The authorities confiscated a dagga plant, three parcels and a three-quarters-full shopping bag of dagga.
A parcel of dagga was found at another house searched, and a man was arrested.
Vivienne Barclay, who has lived in Hanover Park for 19 years, said the man and his friends regularly stole from her.
Meanwhile, another team arrested two men at roadblocks in the area’s main road.
One man was found in possession of a compressed brick of dagga, while another was found with 156 rolled joints.
Le Roux said the raids were part of Operation Choke, and they favoured a two-pronged approach. The team of 30 was split in two last night. One team focused on searching identified drug houses, while the other team conducted stop-and-search operations in the area. Children riding bicycles in the streets late at night often acted as drug runners.
Le Roux said that while the high schools were regularly searched for drugs and weap-ons, the operations had not yet moved into primary schools. “But complaints are coming through about those young children being used as runners,” said Le Roux.
Two weeks ago, Plato asked Hanover Park residents to provide him with the addresses of rental properties being used for drug and gang activities.
Plato wants to create a database to monitor action taken by law enforcement. The database will be shared with the city’s housing and safety and security departments, as well as the police.
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