Five men had been arrested in two incidents in Pretoria for possession of Aldicarb — a drug used to poison pets, especially dogs, by would-be burglars, police said.
Area commissioner Amon Mashigo said on Monday four men were arrested at Lyttelton taxi rank early this year, and the fifth one was arrested in Silverton at the beginning of May.
A local newspaper reported on Monday that would-be-housebreakers in the past few weeks in Centurion poisoned more than 100 dogs with Aldicarb — a substance commonly known as ”two step” because the dog usually takes just two steps before it keels over and dies.
Mashigo said: ”I would like to assure residents of Tshwane, especially pet owners, that we are aware and disturbed about reports of dog poisoning.
”I have appointed a team of detectives who are working with the crime intelligence unit to investigate these incidents as well as the threat posed by the availability of the substance.”
He said several operations in conjunction with Tshwane health inspectors were conducted in Mabopane, Belle Ombre, Denneboom train station and Pretoria central. Large quantities of the substance were confiscated in these operations.
Aldicarb, an organo-phosphate used for agricultural purposes, was sold on the streets by hawkers although it had been withdrawn from the market and is illegal, he said.
Mashigo said special operations were underway and those found in possession of the drug would be arrested.
”We are going to pay special attention to street hawkers and at the same time continue with ‘stop and search’ operations.
”I appeal to pet owners to report these type of cases as this will enable us to determine the trend of this crime,” he said.
A police officer was reported by the local newspaper as saying the dog death toll could be even higher as many people did not report the mysterious death of their pets to the police. – Sapa