Garden route police clamps down on drug and liquor outlets during Operation Shanela

A clamp down on drug and liquor outlets as part of the Garden Route District’s high density operations under Operation Shanela led to the confiscation of various illicit substances and liquor over the past weekend.

On Friday, 23 June 2023, Uniondale Crime Prevention Unit members conducted two operations at known drug outlets where they arrested two suspects, aged 36 and 37 on charges of dealing in drugs each. The vigilant members confiscated a combined 491 bankies of dagga and one gram of Tik during these operations.

The same day (23 June 2023), Oudtshoorn police conducted crime prevention patrols in crime ridden areas and arrested six suspects after drugs were found in their possession. The members confiscated small quantities of Mandrax, dagga and Tik. The team also arrested a 57-year-old man on a charge of selling liquor without a licence during an operation at an unlicensed liquor outlet at Tier Road, Oudtshoorn. A total of 99, 72 litres of liquor were seized at the premises.

Meantime, on Saturday, 24 June 2023, Garden Route District Crime Combatting Team, Attaqua K9 and Calitzdorp police members deployed in Calitzdorp embarked on an operation at a shebeen at 9th Avenue, Bergsig in Calitzdorp. The combined forces confiscated 320 litres of liquor at the premises. A 37-year-old man and 25-year-old woman were taken into custody. They each face a charge of selling of liquor without a licence each.

Furthermore, last night (24 June 2023), Da Gamaskop police conducted patrols when the members noticed a man dropping a parcel. They pursued the man and caught up with him. A search of the parcel resulted in the confiscation of 55 Mandrax tablets and two sachets consisting Tik. The suspect (46) was arrested on a charge of possession of drugs.

All arrested will appear in various courts in the region once charged.

Substance abuse remain one of the contributors to crime on women and children. The arrests and confiscations forms part of concerted efforts to curb incidents gender based violence and femicide (GBVF), mostly reported over weekends. These high density operations are key to the policing approach of the Western Cape Province.