WESTERN CAPE – Concerted efforts by Police in the Eden Cluster in the Garden Route District and the strategic deployment of integrated forces on major and secondary routes ensured that 290 suspects were arrested between Friday, 23 and Sunday morning, 25 July 2021 at 06:00. Of these, two hundred and twenty six (226) were arrested for reported crime, committed during the mentioned period. These arrests represent various criminal offences, ranging from petty to Contravention of DMA Covid-19 Regulations and other serious crime since the start of this weekend.
This weekend’s operations included high visibility patrols in crime stricken areas, roadblocks, stop and search operations with a special focus on drug and liquor outlets, illegal firearms, the tracing of wanted suspects and the confiscation of dangerous weapons. Most of the arrested suspects will make their court appearance in the local magistrates’ court tomorrow, Monday, 26 July 2021, once charged whilst others were released on a warning to appear in court at a later stage or pay an admission of guilt fine for DMA transgressions.
On Saturday, 24 July 2021 at about 17:00 members attached to the Rural Flying Squad who were strategically deployed along Kannaland’s R62-route operationalized intelligence of a suspect who is commuting drugs. They set a vehicle checkpoint on the route and upon spotting the vehicle the suspect was travelling in, pulled it over about 10km outside Ladismith, travelling from Cape Town. They ensued with a search and found 200 Mandrax Tablets and 50gram of Tik in the luggage of the suspect. Subsequently they confiscated the drugs as evidence and arrested the suspect who is from Varkieskloof, an informal settlement in Ladismith.
The 33-year-old suspect is scheduled to appear in the Ladismith magistrates’ court on Monday, 26 July 2021 on a charge of Illegal possession of drugs.
This success followed another breakthrough against the illegal transportation and distribution of drugs in our rural remote areas earlier in the week on Thursday, 22 July 2021 when members arrested three (3) suspects between the ages 20, 31 and 33 for the illegal possession of drugs. Members followed up on information received about the trio that is travelling from Cape Town. Members then found four parcels of compressed dagga in the bag of the female suspect. One of the men carried an iron board in which 93 Mandrax tablets were concealed inside the poles of the board whilst the third suspect had to be taken to the Allan Blyth hospital in Ladismith where Medici extract 7 Mandrax tablets and 26gram of Tik that was concealed internally (rectum).
They are also scheduled to appear in the Ladismith Magistrates’ court on Monday, 26 July 2021 for the illegal possession of drugs.
Eden Cluster Commander, Maj Gen Oswald Reddy, commended the members for their vigilance in bringing these perpetrators to book. He reiterated that although seemingly insignificant for some, these police initiated interventions indeed prevented the commission of other serious crimes such as murders, robberies, serious assaults and domestic-related and Gender Based Violence.
Western Cape Provincial Management has lauded the members for their efforts that contributed to a safer weekend in the various policing precincts.
Source: South African Police Service