Efforts by police to eradicate substance abuse which remain some of the major contributors to serious and violent crimes over weekends yielded excellent results with the arrest of 70 suspects for drug and liquor related offences in the Garden Route District over the past weekend.
The clamp down operations aimed at drug outlets included sting operations, focused operations and stop and search operations. These crime combatting operations led to the arrest of 62 suspects for possession of drugs and six for dealing in drugs charges. Police confiscated tik, mandrax and dagga found in possession of those arrested. Most of the arrests were effected in George where a total of 34 perpetrators (Conville – 14, George police station – 10 and Pacaltsdorp – 9) were brought to book.
On Thursday, 08 August 2024, Oudtshoorn Crime Prevention Unit members and Crime Intelligence operationalised information embarked on a focused operation at the Oudtshoorn taxi rank. The vigilant members confiscated 17 bankies of tik and a small quantity of Mandrax. They arrested two suspects aged 24 and 34 on a charge of dealing in drugs each.
Meanwhile, Garden Route Crime Combatting Team and Knysna Crime Prevention Unit members conducted operations in Knysna on Saturday, 10 August 2024. The team follow-up on information at a house at Concordia in Knysna. A search of the premises resulted in the discovery of 811 gram of tik. The members confiscated the find and arrested the undocumented person (31) on charges of dealing in drugs.
Furthermore, police also arrested two suspects aged 41 and 45 for selling liquor without liquor licences at The Crags outside Plettenberg and Da Gamaskop in Mossel Bay. The police confiscated 326 litres of various brands during these operations.
The suspects will appear in their respective courts once charged.
These arrests and confiscations forms part of several operations launched to safeguard communities with a specific aim to curb Gender Based Violence and Femicide which plaque various communities in this region.
Garden Route District arrests 70 suspects for drug and liquor-related offences during weekend operations https://t.co/Xvzo0qI4CV#ArriveAlive #TrioCrimes #Drugs #Operation @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/H63RZ6k3qh
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) August 11, 2024
