Police members of the Provincial Organised Crime Unit assisted by the Francis Baard Organised Crime Investigations Unit, Kimberley Crime Prevention Unit and the Sol Plaatje Municipality Security Services, apprehended and arrested a 27-year-old foreign national male on Friday, 24 February 2023 after acting on information regarding alleged illegal drug activities at the Samaria informational settlement in Kimberley.

The team operationalised the information of possible drug dealing and illegal firearms at separate shacks at the Samaria informal settlement in Kimberley. They obtained search warrants and raided the said shacks.

The team managed to confiscate mandrax, dagga, tik and recovered two (2) unlicensed firearms and ammunition hidden in one of the shacks.

The 27-year-old suspect is expected to appear in the Kimberley Magistrate's court soon on a charge of dealing in drugs. Police are investigating the enquiry opened in connection with the unlicensed firearms at this stage.

The Provincial Head for Organized Crime, Brigadier Johan Myburgh lauded the collective team for the meticulous and professional search and seizure that led to the arrest and recovery of suspected illegal firearms. The proliferation of illegal firearms remains a priority for SAPS and unabated efforts will continue to address this crime.

Source: South African Police Service