'Lion of Alberton' finally caged

The lion ruled Alberton. He threatened cops and evaded arrest warrants but it was a sting and a painting that finally brought him down.

Philip Nsofor was a drug lord who ran his empire from a cellphone shop in Alberton North. On the street he was known as Stranger or by the nickname he gave himself - the lion of Alberton.

A Nigerian national, he supplied cocaine to Alberton, Germiston and Robertsham in Johannesburg, and he threatened anyone who got in his way.

But now Nsofor is in jail, thanks to an international sting. He was found guilty of drug trafficking and racketeering and will be sentenced in the Germiston Magistrate's Court next week.

Paul Ramaloko, spokesman for the Hawks, said Nsofor was caught out in a joint SAPS-Brazilian operation.

A drug runner was sent to São Paulo, Brazil, to collect a consignment of cocaine. The authorities allowed him to travel back to South Africa with the cocaine hidden in a painting.

The Hawks were able to successfully link Nsofor with the drugs, Ramaloko said.

A police officer, who for years tried to bust the kingpin, welcomed the news that he was finally going to jail.

The official, who did not want to be named, arrested Nsofor countless times but said he escaped jail because of corrupt policemen.

"But tonight I am celebrating," said the official.