A City of Cape Town K9 cop has sniffed his way to top spot after helping officers find more than 2000 units of drugs worth R160 000 in just six months.
The Metro Police head office in Parow buzzed with excitement on Tuesday as Chief Wayne le Roux handed over a special medal to the three-year-old German Shepherd, named Savage.
Le Roux explains the K9 Unit, which consists of 25 pooches, specialise in detecting illegal drugs, explosives and copper during raids and special operations.
Savage’s handler, Constable Mosuli Faku, says he has been working with the hound for three years and is proud of his stellar performance.
City's top dog, Savage. Picture: Monique Duval
Savage is one of five puppies born and raised exclusively by the unit after permission was obtained to allow the unit to breed.
Savage has since been trained by the specialised unit and in the last six months accounted for six
arrests and sniffed out 85 units of ungah, 690 mandrax tablets, 69 units and 18.3 grams of cocaine, 424 bankies and 203 grams of tik, 104 dagga stoppe, two bags of dagga, 515 dagga bankies and R2 630 cash.
Faku says: “The successes are a combination of the dog and the handler and the relationship. It is about the trust.”
On Tuesday, officers searched a well-known drug den in Parow and within minutes Savage found drugs hidden in one of the rooms.
Cops explain regular raids are held at the abandoned Home Affairs building which has become overrun with merts.
Le Roux says Savage has set the bar high for the rest of the team as he sniffs out drugs hidden in trees and even underground.
“Officer Savage is an asset to our efforts to curb the illicit drug trade, and we felt it appropriate to award him with a service medal in recognition of his efforts,” he says.
Constable Mosuli Faku and Chief le Roux with Savage. Picture: Monique Duval
Over the last year, the Metro Police K9 Unit has made 156 arrests mostly for drug-related crimes, conducted 186 operations, recovered two vehicles, and confiscated five firearms and 86 rounds of ammunition.
The unit also confiscated 4226 units of drugs, more than R30 000 cash and 4765 units of abandoned drugs.
Savage’s special award. Picture: Monique Duval