‘Cop killing’ gang has links to SAPS
KZN police investigating a "cop killing" gang have been forced to look within their own ranks.
|||Durban - KwaZulu-Natal police investigating a “cop killing” gang have been forced to look within their own ranks, as evidence has emerged that strong ties exist between gang members and some police officers.
This is according to several sources, from different police units.
The gang was wanted in connection with two police shootings last month, in which Gingindlovu-based Warrant Officer Jericho Mdletshe and the Durban Flying Squad’s Warrant Officer Ashok Ramsakkan were killed.
It was also believed to be responsible for the shooting, in July last year, of an officer in KwaMashu. In that incident, the officer narrowly survived being shot in the head.
Institute of Security Studies (ISS) senior researcher, Dr Johan Burger, said studies had found it was no secret that crime syndicates recruited police officers to work with them for a fee.
Police officers were sought out because of the intelligence they were privy to, Burger said.
“What we don’t know, though, is how widespread this is.”
Burger said there were cases where police officers closing in on syndicates, and who would not be bought, were targeted.
In KwaZulu-Natal, police are closing the dragnet on the “cop killing” gang.
On Sunday, they arrested a suspected member, believed to be “very close” to the gang leader, during an operation that also saw two handguns – which might have been used in last month’s shootings – seized.
And on Saturday morning, three men – believed to be members of the same gang – were killed in a shoot-out with police in KwaMashu. This was during an operation involving several elite police units including the National Intervention Unit, the Hawks and the Durban Flying Squad.
Seven men – also believed to belong to the gang – were shot dead in another shoot-out with police the week before, and police received information regarding an alleged plan to avenge their deaths by killing policemen.
Daily News
* Use IOL's Facebook and Twitter pages to comment on our stories. See links below.