Marianne Merten
A key figure of the Cape Town gang and drug underworld has moved out of town in the face of new anti-organised crime legislation to clamp down on the profits of illegal dealings and assets bought with illicit profits.
For some time Colin Stansfield, head of the drug cartel, The Firm, has been living in Bedfordview, east of Johannesburg. Police sources say he spends most of his time in Gauteng. Stansfield is believed to be one of South Africa’s richest people, worth an estimated R40-million.
Sources claim Stansfield has bought property in posh Pretoria suburb Waterkloof, where several high-ranking government officials live. However, Western Cape police intelligence sources could only confirm that he has looked at properties in the area.
An intelligence source said Stansfield owns property across the country, including at least two houses in Eersterus near Pretoria. “The man sits on too much money. If he launders money in Cape Town, we will pick him up.”
Stansfield was arrested on charges of drug dealing and tax evasion two years ago. The charges were temporarily withdrawn after the state prosecutor on the case resigned.