Cops held for
allowing drug dealers safe passage
Seven Queenstown Flying Squad
members were arrested yesterday for allegedly being paid off to allow drug
dealers safe passage through the town.
The officers were arrested after a
months-long sting operation by the Eastern Cape Anti-Corruption Unit.
They are expected to appear in court
either today or tomorrow.
In the Free State, six police
officers were arrested yesterday for fraud, corruption and theft in another
sting operation.
The charges relate to bogus claims
totalling R5.2-million.
Eastern Cape provincial commissioner
Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga’s office said more information on the
Queenstown arrests would only be made available after the officers had been
formally charged in court.
Six of the officers were arrested at
their homes at about 5am and the seventh was arrested in Pretoria where he is
on a training course.
The officers – from constables to
warrant officers – are accused of being paid by drug dealers to allow certain
dealers safe passage through the town.
“In some instances, they allegedly
transported narcotics through the town for the drug dealers to a drop-off
point,” an official, who is close to the investigation but declined to be
named, said.
