Suspected Elston Avenue drug den closed down

Residents of a house in Elston Avenue, which has long been suspected by police of being a nucleus for drug dealing and prostitution, were evicted after the owner obtained a court order to remove the tenants.

The police were present to facilitate the eviction of non-paying residents from a house in Elston Avenue.

Members of SAPS and the CPF were present during the eviction, which took place because the residents had not been paying rent for some time.

“We got the eviction order after years of struggling with this place,” said Debbie dos Reis, a Western Extension resident and member of the Western Extension Community Association (Weca).

“There are more drug houses in this area, but this place was one of our biggest problems.”

Dos Reis warned property owners to be careful about who they let their places out to.

Raymond Guest, owner of the property, said he is pleased the residents have been evicted.

“I rented it out to a guy who seemed legitimate, but then he sublet it to these guys,” Guest said.

“Now I’m going to clean up the house and sell it.”

SAPS, CPF and community members outside the house in Elston Avenue.

SAPS and CPF members on scene were shocked at the neglect in which the house was found.

The kitchen of the house in Elston Avenue from which the residents were evicted recently.

Members on scene expressed shock at seeing the state of neglect the house was left in.

Guest said he gave the residents notice to leave at least five times in the past, but eventually resorted to a court order to do the eviction.

Capt Nomsa Sekele, Benoni SAPS spokesperson, said the police were present only to facilitate the eviction.

Col Martin van Nieuwenhuizen, head of the Benoni Visible Policing unit, said nothing illegal was found on the property during the eviction, but it has long been suspected of being a den for drug dealing and prostitution.

“This is a very positive result for the community,” van Nieuwenhuizen said.