Former bank manager Christopher Carelse, who was arrested alongside alleged drug kingpin Raed Cupido in a multi-million-rand cocaine trafficking case, has been shot and killed in Kensington.
According to police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk, the 37-year-old was attacked at his home in 1st Street, Kensington, on Wednesday afternoon. Two armed suspects reportedly exited a gold-coloured vehicle and chased Carelse before opening fire. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene.
Carelse’s death comes just two weeks after reports emerged that he had been released from custody and had turned state witness in the high-profile drug case.
Carelse and Cupido were arrested in 2024 after authorities discovered cocaine, drugs and ammunition with an estimated street value of more than R18 million. Investigators alleged that the narcotics were linked to international drug cartels. The storage unit where the drugs were found had reportedly been leased in Carelse’s name.
The pair faced charges including drug trafficking, money laundering and organised crime. Carelse’s reported cooperation with authorities had made him a key figure in the State’s case against Cupido and other accused.
Police have opened a murder investigation and are searching for the suspects. No arrests have been made. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether Carelse’s killing is linked to the ongoing drug trafficking case.
