THREE suspected Nigerian drug dealers were arrested yesterday, allegedly while selling drugs from a rented shop across from Port Elizabeth's Walmer Park shopping centre. This follows a three-week investigation involving the Port Elizabeth Airwing, K9 Unit and Humewood drug squad.
Police swooped on the Mekon women's accessories shop near McDonalds at 1pm yesterday.
During the raid, police found about R20000 worth of raw crack cocaine, dagga and heroine hidden in the men's car, shop and house.
Police spokesman Captain Stanley Jarvis said police received a tip-off three weeks ago about the shop being used to sell drugs.
"A full-scale investigation was launched under the command of Captain Deon Ackerman who arranged undercover drug squad members to do surveillance on the shop for weeks," he said.
Jarvis said one of the men was arrested in the shop while the other two were tracked back to their Lorraine hideout.
"We suspect that these men were supplying various dealers in Port Elizabeth from the shop but keeping the bulk of the drugs at their Lorraine hideout," Jarvis said.
"Due to the scale of the investigation, police have roped in Home Affairs, the SA Revenue Service and the asset forfeiture unit.
"We are going to approach the asset forfeiture unit to assess whether we can confiscate the contents of the shop and house."
All three men, aged between 30 and 35, are due to appear in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate's Court tomorrow.
