WESTERN CAPE – Concerted efforts by police in the Western Cape to eradicate substance abuse which remains a contributing factor to serious and violent crimes as well as gender based violence and femicide, led to the arrest of seven suspects and the confiscation of drugs with an estimated street value of R100 000. These successes forms part of our mid-week crime combatting operations conducted in the Garden Route District.
On Tuesday, 17 January 2023 at about 19:30 Garden Route Crime Combatting Team (GRCCT) members who are deployed in crime stricken areas responded to information of illicit activities at flats situated at Potsolo Noyyeke Crescent, Lawaaikamp in George. The team operationalised the information and proceeded with a search of a premises when they found 800 mandrax tablets and R13 000 cash inside the flat. They confiscated the drugs and seized the cash. A 45 year old foreign national from Chana, was subsequently arrested in connection with the find. He is facing a charge of dealing in drugs.
Later the same day, 17 January 2023, while leaving the premises, they noticed suspicious activity taking place in a flat adjacent to the one they've just raided. They swiftly responded and while investigating, noticed a man grabbing a parcel on a couch. The vigilant members entered and found 207,35 grams of tik in possession of the occupant. Police confiscated the illicit substance and arrested the 37-year-old Nigerian national on a charge of dealing in drugs.
Furthermore, yesterday 18 January 2023, members attached to the GRCCT, K9 and Crime Intelligence conducted an intelligence driven operation at Ladismith and Zoar in the Klein Karoo. The search and seizure operation resulted in the arrest of three suspects aged 23 and 38, two for possession of drugs and one for dealing in drugs, after small quantities of tik, mandrax and R7080 in cash were found in their possession.
This same team, embarked on similar operations on Wednesday 18 January 2023, at drug outlets in Oudtshoorn, Jan Makai Street and Heideblom Avenue respectively. Upon searching the premises the members confiscated small quantities of tik as well as mandrax tablets. The search and seizure operations resulted in the arrest of two suspects aged 29 and 45. They are facing a charge of possession of drugs each.
Two of those arrested already appeared in the George Magistrates’ court. The other five suspects will appear in the respective local courts once charged.
These arrests and confiscations forms part of ongoing crime combatting operations under the theme under the theme “More boots on the ground to enhance visibility”.
Source: South African Police Service