Concerted efforts to rid communities of firearms and drugs during the festive period resulted in the confiscation of a firearm as well as drugs with an estimated street value of R150 000-00 during Safer Festive Season operations in crime hotspots in the Southern Cape.
Public order police and members attached to the Eden Cluster Crime Combatting Team operationalised information about an illegal firearm when they descended on a house at Nelson Mandela Boulevard, Thembalethu, George on Thursday, 17 December 2020 at about 01:00. Upon searching the premises they found a revolver and five rounds of ammunition inside the residence. The police confiscated these items and arrested a 29-year-old suspect on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
The 29-year-old suspect remains in custody and is due to appear in court when charged.
Furthermore, a 55-year-old woman had appeared in the Oudtshoorn Magistrates’ court on Thursday, 17 December 2020 following her arrest after drugs with an estimated street value of R150 000-00 (hundred and fifty thousand) were found in her possession during an intelligence-driven operation on the N12 between George and Oudtshoorn. Vigilant members of the K9 Attaqua stopped a minibus taxi that was en-route to Oudtshoorn on Tuesday, 15 December 2020. A search of the woman resulted in the discovery of two bags consisting of Tik. She was subsequently arrested.
In an unrelated, incident police confiscated twenty cards belonging to the South African Social Security Agency at Matjiesfontein near Laingsburg on Wednesday, 16 December 2020 after information about illegal activities was received by the police. Members attached to the Langeberg K9 and Laingsburg police responded to the information when they conducted a search at a Spaza shop where they found the SASSA cards with pin codes in a plastic bag under the counter of the shop. Further investigation on-site indicated that these cards were linked to pin codes of social grant recipients.
The police arrested the two occupants on the premises and confiscated the cards as well as credit control registers that were kept in the shop. Both suspects face charges relating to the contravention of the National Credit Act.
These suspects were due to appear in court.
These Safer Festive Season operations will be maintained to ensure that communities as well as visitors to the Southern Cape are and feel safe during this period.
Southern Cape police confiscates firearm and drugs worth R150 000 during Festive Season Operations https://t.co/OqaUG6azFu#ArriveAlive #Firearm #Drugs #Operations @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/Sp2Y8ZFN0D
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) December 18, 2020