Police raid plush Umhlanga brothel
Eight people were arrested in a raid at a plush Umhlanga home believed to belong to Durban businesswoman Rosanne Narandas.
|||Durban - A plush Umhlanga brothel was raided on Friday night after an elite law-enforcement team swooped on a home on Lady Ellen Crescent in an intelligence-driven operation.
The raid netted five women, the kingpin, a pimp and an alleged drug dealer who delivered drugs to the property while undercover policemen were inside the home.
The team of police included members of the Hawks and the Durban K9 unit.
An undisclosed amount of mandrax, cocaine, dagga and an unlicensed firearm was found on the property.
The back of the property extends on to the shore of the Umhlanga beach and police suspect that drugs were being transported via this route.
The home belongs to Durban businesswoman Rosanne Narandas who, through an agent, let out the property to a couple at a rental of R35 000 a month on April 1, 2016.
Narandas worked with police to ensure that the raid was successful.
She said she was furious about her property being used as a brothel.
“I received complaints from some people living in the street who suspected that there was a brothel. I immediately went to police to lay a complaint. The property was let out by an agent.
“I made several attempts to contact the agent to let them know what was going on, but he ignored my calls and messages. I told him that I would be seeking legal advice as I did not want to be embroiled in such activities. I also asked the private security company in the area to monitor the property,” said Narandas.
The woman who rented the property is a Durban businesswoman and it is alleged that she and her husband were running the brothel.
She denied having any involvement in the brothel.
However, her husband was arrested at the scene. Narandas also provided the Sunday Tribune with the lease which listed the woman as the lessee.
While the Sunday Tribune was at the scene of the raid, several clients tried to enter the brothel. On seeing the police vehicles parked outside the house, the cars drove away.
The women who work at the brothel use the online escort website redvelvetescourts.co.za to advertise their services. When contacted by a reporter, the women said they charged R800 per hour-long “session” and offered services ranging from massages, prostate play, blowjobs and intercourse.
Provincial KZN Hawks spokesman Lieutenant Simphiwe Mhlongo confirmed the incident and said an investigation was under way.
“We still have to determine if any of the women were being held against their will. This should be a warning to other brothels and drug dens out there. This is the first of many to come. The Hawks are watching you, and we are coming for you next. Where there is prostitution, there are usually drugs,” he said.
The suspects face charges ranging from drug dealing, prostitution, keeping a brothel and the possession of an unlicensed firearm.
They will appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, upset residents in the area said they were pleased that the brothel was bust. One resident said the street had become very busy.
“The busiest time was between midnight and 4am when cars would line up outside.
“We don’t want such activities in our neighbourhood. We would like to commend the police on this,” said the resident.
nabeelah.shaikh@inl.co.za
Sunday Tribune