Quigney hair salon closed in drug raid

JOINT ARRESTS: A joint operation between the East London Hawks and Mdantsane Crime Intelligence unit led to the arrest of a foreign national allegedly running a drug outlet from a hair salon in Quigney. A second suspect was later arrested nearby Picture: STEPHANIE LLOYD
JOINT ARRESTS: A joint operation between the East London Hawks and Mdantsane Crime Intelligence unit led to the arrest of a foreign national allegedly running a drug outlet from a hair salon in Quigney. A second suspect was later arrested nearby Picture: STEPHANIE LLOYD
A suspected drug-dealing operation allegedly masquerading as a hair salon business in Quigney was closed down last Friday when the police arrested the owner after finding him in possession of crack cocaine, among other drugs.

A week-long crime intelligence-driven operation saw the Hawks and the Mdantsane Crime Intelligence units making a breakthrough when they confiscated crack cocaine, dagga, an undisclosed amount of money and lab tubes in the small salon at Quigney’s Caxton Street last Friday afternoon.

A 32-year-old man, who was found with his pregnant girlfriend, was arrested at about 2pm, moments after the police suspected he had sold drugs to buyers.

The woman was not arrested.

Police spokesman Captain Stephen Marais said: “The police received some information about the business. We investigated the information further got a search warrant from the magistrate. We were quite confident that we would make an arrest here.”

During the operation, which was witnessed by the Saturday Dispatch team, the nervous suspect was seen sweating when the police discovered small packets of dagga hidden above the door frame.

Thirteen lab tubes, which were allegedly used to smoke drugs, were also confiscated despite the suspect telling the police there was nothing else to find in the room.

Following the arrest the police arrested another suspect near the East London Windmill who, according to Marais, was found in possession of “one big crack cocaine” tablet.

“Soon after we arrested the first suspect the intelligence team did another operation and another 32-year-old man was arrested. The two face charges of dealing in drugs and will appear in the East London Magistrate’s Court on Monday ,” Marais said. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za

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