An alleged gang boss from Parkwood is behind bars after Grassy Park police raided his home on Sunday night and allegedly caught him with drugs worth R15 000.
According to a source, the man known as “Tamatie” is the head of the Americans and inadvertently led officers to the location of his secret stash when he flushed his toilet.
“He is also regarded as the biggest drug mert in the area,” says the source.
Police spokesperson, Captain Wynita Kleinsmith, says officers of the Crime Prevention Unit (CPU) were conducting patrols about 5pm in Parkwood following sporadic shootings between the Americans and Junky Funky gangs when they received a tip-off.
“While patrolling, officers received information that the 46-year-old male was dealing drugs at his residence in Willow Road and could have a firearm in his home,” she says.
She says on arrival, officers knocked on the door and waited for some time before the suspect opened the door.
During this time wakker cops heard the toilet flushing.
“This made vigilant officers suspicious and, upon searching the bathroom, they removed a wooden panel under the sink and found two bank packets containing a large amount of tik and 50 mandrax tablets wrapped in foil with an estimated value of R15 000,” says Kleinsmith.
“Officers also found a Smith and Wesson revolver with serial number removed and ammunition.”
According to the source, before officers could handcuff the alleged gang boss, he tried to evade arrest by running through a gangetjie next to his council house.
ARREST: Grassy Park ‘mert’, called ‘Tamatie’, is nabbed for R15k drugs
But again cops were too fast for him and caught him.
Kleinsmith says when residents spotted the man being arrested, they become riotous.
“The officers were not harmed and the vehicles did not sustain any damage. He was taken to the station and charged with drug dealing, possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of ammunition and resisting arrest,” she says.
He is to appear in Wynberg Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.