WESTERN CAPE – The illicit drug trade in the Western Cape was dealt a heavy blow when police confiscated drugs with an estimated street value of R1,4 million during an intelligence driven operation at two premises situated at Thembalethu, George in the early morning hours on Thursday, 03 November 2022.
At about 05:00 this morning, George Public Order Police (POP), Garden Route Crime Combatting Team and Crime Intelligence members armed with a search warrant operationalised information on drug activities when they descended on a residence situated at Johannes Street, Zone 9, Thembalethu. On arrival the vigilant members noticed the occupant of the premises suspiciously throwing an object on the ground. The members immediately responded and found the object, later proven to be a key that is used to open a room on the premises. They opened the room and proceeded with a search when they found 19 bags of Mandrax and Tik stashed in the ceiling.
Police confiscated 19 117 Mandrax tablets and 1,3 kilogram of Tik. The find subsequently led to the arrest of a 33-year-old woman on a charge of dealing in drugs.
In the meantime, the same team also conducted a similar operation at Johannes Street, Zone 9, Thembalethu where they confiscated 54 Mandrax tablets and 13 bankies of Tik estimated at about R7200. The police arrested a 34-year-old man in connection with this discovery.
Both suspects remains in police custody. They will appear in court once charged.
Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, had nothing but praise for those who were instrumental to remove these drugs from the streets. “These confiscations is in line with policing priorities of this province to rid communities of drugs because substance abuse remains a major generator of serious and violent crimes, especially Gender Based Violence and Femicide. We shall sustain this type of operations as part of concerted efforts by police to safeguard communities and the most vulnerable in society”, Lt Gen Patekile concluded.
Source: South African Police Service