EDEN CLUSTER – Geared and armed with search warrants obtained from the magistrates’ court, George Crime Prevention Unit, supported by the Southern Cape Public Order Police (POP) pounced on notorious illegal drug and liquor outlets in the rural neighbourhoods of Kleinkrantz and Touwsranten, outside George over the weekend. Known for the high rate of unemployment and domestic violence-related incidents such as rape, it’s a known fact that liquor and drugs are the main contributing factors towards the commission of these crimes and other crimes to maintain the habit, such as theft and burglary.
Yesterday, Saturday, 21 January 2022 members pounced on a house situated in Swarthout Street, Touwsranten where they ensued with a search and found a substantial amount of Tik, Mandrax tablets (13-full, 26-halves, 4-quarters and almost a kilogram of dagga, including 173-stops) on the premises. They subsequently arrested a suspect in his late twenties in connection with the find and detained him at the George police station holding cells and confiscated the find as evidence.
Later the same day, members executed search warrants at two houses in Kleinkrantz where a moderate amount of Mandrax, Tik and Cocaine were seized. Two men in their late twenties/early thirties were arrested. Whilst executing the search warrant, members discovered various suspected stolen items on the premises, including a bicycle, electronic implements such as a microwave oven and electric power tools. The two suspects face charges of Illegal Dealing in Drugs as well as the Possession of suspected stolen property. Some of the stolen items has already been linked to housebreakings in the area.
All suspects are scheduled to appear in the George Magistrate’s Court on the mentioned charged tomorrow, Monday, 24 January 2022.
In addition to the above, George and Pacaltsdorp Crime Prevention Units combined their resources and pounced on an illegal liquor outlet in Campher Street, New Dawn Park in Pacaltsdorp where they executed a search warrant. During the search they discovered a substantial amount of liquor on the premises as well as a moderate amount of drugs, including 19-bankies of Tik, 23-full and 14-half Mandrax tablets. Subsequent to the find members arrested two suspects, 44 and 28-years-old respectively members also confiscated the find as evidence.
The duo was later released on a warning to appear in the George Magistrate’s Court soon.
Provincial Management together with the Eden Cluster management had nothing but praise for the members involved in bringing these illegal peddlers to book. To address the contributing factors of crime remains a priority.
Source: South African Police Service