Only in the New! Improved! South Africa!™

Dogs sniff out drugs at church

Police found drug containers in a Sunnyside church after police sniffer dogs went crazy as they walked past the church.

On Sundays, the Gospel Christian Church in Esselen Street was a place of worship, but on other days it was a hiding place for drug users.

Members of the police, the Tshwane metro police and military police found the drug containers when they took part in a march in the street. The parade was part of the 16 Days of Activism campaign against crime against women and children.

When those taking part in the parade walked past the church, "the sniffer dogs became excited, a sign there were drugs in the area", said senior Superintendent Alta Fourie of the Tshwane metro police.

"When we wanted to investigate, we saw men standing in the church, but as they were in trouble, these people - presumably the church leaders - disappeared."

Police ordered the men to open up after they became suspicious due to the dogs' behaviour and because the men were unwilling to open the doors.

Police then broke down the doors to gain entry, but when they came in, everything was quiet and the men had left.

When police searched the premises, they found numerous empty drug containers.

Police were unable to find the suspects. They decided to stop people in the area and search them. Motorists and pedestrians were searched.

Several suspected illegal immigrants were nabbed. One of them also had a suspected stolen cellphone.

Fourie said they didn't know who the drug containers belonged to.