Police are closing the net on suspected Mitchells Plain drug kingpin Fadwaan “Vet” Murphy, seizing drugs and R360 000 in cash from two people who allegedly work for him.
Cops say on Friday, they nabbed a man and woman and confiscated drugs worth R300 000, close to R180 000 in cash, and packaging equipment.
Two weeks ago, wakker cops from Lentegeur SAPS also confiscated R180 000 from Murphy at a petrol station in Lentegeur.
On Friday, cops followed up on information from the public that led them to a house in Sayed Abdul Samad Road in The Westgate, Westridge, Mitchells Plain.
Inside, cops arrested a 45-year-old man and a woman, aged 31, who are expected to appear at the Mitchells Plain Magistrates’ Court on 5 March for their formal bail application.
CASH: Money from suspects
Police sources reveal the man is believed to be one of Murphy’s henchmen.
Cops found two sealers, one silver scale and, hidden inside built-in cupboards, a cellphone and drugs with an estimated street value of R180 000.
The drug stash included about 800 small packets of tik, one big bag of tik, one medium-size zip lock packet filled with heroin, 15 small packets of heroin, a large quantity of mandrax tablets and 500 ecstasy tablets.
Mitchells Plain Police Station spokesperson, Sergeant Jerome Voegt, confirms the arrest: “On Friday afternoon, members attached to SAPS Tactical Response Team arrested a man and woman, aged 31 and 45, at a house in Westridge after receiving an anonymous tip-off that were drugs being stored at the house.”
Two weeks ago, cops spotted Murphy and his driver at the BP garage in Lentegeur and asked to search his white Kia vehicle.
Police found R180 000 in cash in a tog bag and confiscated it.
CONFISCATED: Drugs stash
Murphy was not arrested, but will have to come with proof to the Curator of the Assets Forfeiture Unit to say where he obtained the money.
Police have also indicated that forensic testing will be conducted on the money to check for traces of illegal substances.
Murphy is currently on trial at the Cape High Court with his co-accused, his ex-wife Shafieka Murphy, his sister Glenda Bird, Dominic Davidson, Leon Paulsen and Desmond Jacobs.
They are facing 229 charges relating to money laundering, dealing in drugs and racketeering.
Last year, the AFU seized Murphy’s assets, including five homes and six vehicles.