War on drugs intensified
Mayor launches specialised K9 Narcotics Unit within the JMPD.
By launching a specialised K9 Narcotics Unit, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) is sending a clear message that they will be utilising all intelligence and resources at their disposal to pursue drug dealers relentlessly.
The City of Johannesburg will also put a drug prevention and treatment programme in place that will work closely with the communities through awareness and education.
During his election campaign, the now Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba promised that he would create a specialised drug unit within the JMPD if he were elected. With the launch of the new unit on 21 November, he fulfilled that promise.
Speaking at the launch of the K9 Narcotics Unit at the JMPD training academy in Selby, Mashaba said drug abuse is a burden with serious implications for the safety of the communities in the city. “For years our city has been plagued by crime and drugs. Lives have been lost, families have been broken, communities torn apart and people left brokenhearted and hopeless,” he said.
Dog busts drugs on MMC of Public Safety @MichaelSun168, this is a drug bust demonstration #Joburgatwork ^NS pic.twitter.com/tptrdgGsCF
Mashaba noted that drugs are often linked to a variety of social, psychological, financial and health issues which cannot be ignored. “More than any other problem the drug epidemic is representative of our city’s deep social divide,” he said.
The K9 Narcotics Unit will be allocated the JMPD’s best-performing officers with the highest level of integrity, and high-calibre firearms and high-performance vehicles will be at their disposal.
Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar, spokesperson for the JMPD was very excited about the new unit and what it entails. “We are very happy to have this unit established. With it comes extra resources to assist in the fight against drugs. Another 19 dogs have been purchased and are currently undergoing training.
We have also appointed 24 new members to the unit,” he said.
Watch: video demonstrates how dogs are trained and rewarded for work in the K9 unit #Joburgatwork ^NS pic.twitter.com/tvClnkOkPd
During their first 100 days after its launch, the unit will focus on drug-related crimes in hotspot areas. Some of these hotspots that were identified include Roodepoort and Honeydew. Minnaar confirmed that the officers will be operating in Roodepoort and surrounds.
Mashaba concluded by saying, “Today we declare war on drugs and the drug lords. There will be no safe haven for them in Johannesburg.”
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