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Police targeting drug 'demons': Mthethwa

Police have turned their focus to catching more druglords along with the average petty drug dealers, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said on Wednesday.

"The SA Police Service is focusing on the druglords, the demons of the drug trade," he said at the opening of the new Chatsworth police station in Durban.

"It is necessary to arrest the small-time dealers and petty gangsters, but we want the big fish as well."

In January last year, Yagawathan Pillay, suspected of being a druglord named "Teddy Mafia", and his son and were arrested after a police raid at a home in Shallcross, near Chatsworth.

Bags reportedly containing large amounts of heroin as well as more than 2000 straws of heroin were discovered.

Pillay was granted bail of R100,000 and his son R25,000.

A second raid was done in February. However Pillay was not at home. It was reported at the time that police could not find him, and the case was handed over to the organised crime unit.

Police spokesman Colonel Jay Naicker could not be reached on Wednesday to provide an update on the search for Pillay.

Mthethwa praised the new building, saying he was pleased that the R131 million station was built within budget.

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