Latest news with #WesternCapeAnti-GangUnit
IOL News
19-07-2025
- IOL News
Suspended Standard Bank manager faces serious charges in R18 million cocaine bust linked to cartel
Suspended Standard Bank manager Raed Cupido and co-accused Christopher Brice Carelse appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court on Friday for a further bail application. Image: Mandilakhe Tshwete A suspended Standard Bank retail manager and his alleged associate remain in custody following their arrest in what police are describing as a high-level drug trafficking investigation with suspected links to an international cartel and Colombian cocaine suppliers. Raed Cupido and Christopher Carelse appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court on Friday on charges relating to the possession and dealing of cocaine, possession of prohibited firearms, including an AK-103 assault rifle and a Uzi Pro machine pistol, and the unlawful possession of ammunition. Police estimate the drugs seized carry a street value of approximately R18 million. According to an affidavit submitted by Lieutenant-Colonel Christiaan Daniel Dirk van Renen of the Western Cape Anti-Gang Unit, Cupido was arrested on 10 June 2025 after police received intelligence about suspicious activity at a Roeland Street storage facility in the Cape Town CBD. During a surveillance operation, Cupido was seen accessing one of the storage units. Officers approached him, and he allegedly gave verbal consent for the unit to be searched. Inside, they discovered a white, brick-shaped substance. When asked what it was, Cupido reportedly responded, 'cocaine'. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ He was immediately arrested. Keys found in his possession were used to access an adjacent unit, where officers later conducted a formal search under warrant. That unit, unit 869, contained a significant stash of 15 bricks of cocaine, high-calibre firearms and ammunition, including: An AK-103 assault rifle; a Uzi Pro machine pistol; five unlicensed semi-automatic pistols and 131 rounds of live ammunition. Two iPhones and an Apple Watch were seized from Cupido, and forensic extraction of data is ongoing. Investigators believe the digital evidence may further confirm links between the accused and broader organised criminal operations. In his affidavit, Van Renen stated that preliminary evidence points to the involvement of an organised transnational crime syndicate. He said the nature and quantity of the drugs, the type of weapons recovered, and intelligence from ongoing parallel investigations suggest a connection to South American cocaine networks, specifically Colombian suppliers. 'Given the quantities involved and the mode of storage, this operation bears the hallmarks of cartel-level activity,' Van Renen wrote. Cupido's alleged co-conspirator, Christopher Carelse, was arrested after further investigation linked him to the same facility and the storage of contraband. Surveillance footage and witness statements allegedly place both men at the scene at different times. The State contends that the two worked in concert as part of a larger operation. Authorities are opposing bail on the basis that both accused are flight risks, have access to significant criminal resources, and could potentially interfere with the investigation, which remains active and could result in further arrests. Cupido, through his attorney, has indicated he will plead not guilty. His legal team is expected to challenge aspects of the search and seizure procedures and dispute the allegations of cartel involvement. The case has been postponed to allow the continuation of the forensic investigation, including the analysis of digital devices and international communication records. The accused remain in custody.
IOL News
30-05-2025
- IOL News
Honouring Major-General André Lincoln: A legacy of courage and service
Major-General Andre Lincoln. Image: Phando Jikelo / Independent Newspapers Major-General (retired) André Lincoln, a veteran crime fighter and former head of the Western Cape Anti-Gang Unit, passed away on Friday morning at 63. Lincoln spent nearly four decades in the South African Police Service (SAPS), where he led several high-profile crime-fighting initiatives, most notably in communities affected by gang violence across the Cape Flats. As head of the Anti-Gang Unit (AGU), he spearheaded efforts to dismantle organised criminal networks, working closely with residents and community leaders to restore trust in law enforcement. His death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from government officials, civil society organisations, and former intelligence operatives. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety Anroux Marais described Lincoln as a dedicated public servant whose contribution to policing would leave a lasting legacy. 'Major-General Lincoln's contribution to improving safety in the Western Cape will continue to form part of the legacy he leaves behind. My thoughts are with his family during this difficult time,' Marais said. Lincoln's law enforcement career began before the advent of democracy, during which he was also involved in underground intelligence work. After 1994, he was appointed by former president Nelson Mandela to head the Presidential Investigation Task Unit. He had previously served as one of Mandela's bodyguards and reportedly helped prevent an assassination attempt during the 1994 presidential inauguration. Lincoln later served as a cluster commander before taking up his final post as head of the Anti-Gang Unit, which was launched to respond to the surge in violent crime and gang activity across the Western Cape. He was often seen on the ground during high-risk operations, leading from the front and working in some of the province's most volatile areas. Bradley Steyn, a former intelligence operative and author of Undercover with Mandela's Spies, credited Lincoln with saving lives both during the Struggle and in post-apartheid South Africa. 'I knew André Lincoln first as my enemy, then as my mentor, handler, and eventually, my friend,' said Steyn. 'He embodied sacrifice, strength, and service.' The organisation Fight Against Crime South Africa (FACSA) also issued a statement honouring Lincoln, describing him as 'a beacon of hope in communities plagued by crime and violence'. 'His legacy, especially in leading the AGU and fearlessly confronting organised crime and gang violence, will forever be remembered by the people of the Western Cape and across South Africa,' the group said. The #GangsterismMustFall movement has called for a Special Provincial Official Funeral – Category 1, saying Lincoln's lifelong commitment to public safety deserves formal recognition. 'He walked the streets of the Cape Flats not above the people, but among them – earning trust, offering hope, and saving lives,' the movement said. Lincoln is survived by his wife, Shereen, and their children. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
