Western Cape police management lauded the members for their vigilance and continued efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens in the province.
Dagga confiscated during a roadblock outside Plettenberg Bay.
Police efforts to curb crime along the Garden Route yielded particular success in the Bitou area over the past weekend.
More than 200 suspects were arrested across the region for offences ranging from contravening lockdown regulations to trafficking drugs.
On Friday 16 July police officers of the Eden Cluster Crime Combatting Team and the Tsitsikamma K9 unit were deployed to the Tsitsikamma Toll Plaza on the N2 outside Plettenberg Bay. During these operations police arrested two suspects on charges of dealing in drugs and transporting liquor.
“These forces confiscated a substantial quantity of liquor and 2,24kg of dagga,” Southern Cape police spokesperson Sgt Christopher Spies said. Fines to the value of R8 600 were also issued in terms of the Disaster Management Act regulations and traffic offences.
The next day officers of the Plettenberg Bay crime prevention unit acted on information about illegal drug activities. This led to police pouncing on a house in Bossiesgif in Plett. “Upon searching the premises they found nine tik straws and an undisclosed amount of cash in possession of a suspect.”
Police confiscated the drugs and arrested the 38-year-old suspect on a charge of dealing in drugs.
Spies said 205 suspects were arrested for various offences in the Eden Cluster during the drive to address serious and violent crimes and enforce level 4 lockdown regulations.
A pistol and ammunition confiscated during a vehicle checkpoint outside Plettenberg Bay on 19 July.
The weekend’s operations started on Friday morning 16 July. “It included patrols in crime-stricken areas, blue light patrols, roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints as well as focused operations at known drug and liquor outlets,” Spies said.
A total of 79 suspects were arrested for reported crimes and 124 were arrested for contravening level 4 lockdown regulations.
On Monday 19 July, members of the crime combatting team pounced again. A 35-year-old man was arrested for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Southern Cape police spokesperson Capt Malcolm Pojie said members of the team set up a vehicle checkpoint near the Tsitsikamma Toll Plaza in the early hours of the morning. Soon after setting up, officers pulled over a vehicle and during a search of the car, they found a 9mm pistol and magazine with seven rounds inside. They also found the driver in possession of a shotgun. These were confiscated and handed in as evidence.
“The suspect was arrested on the spot and detained. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance in the Plettenberg Bay Magistrate’s Court once charged with the unlawful/illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition,” Pojie said.
Western Cape police management lauded the members for their vigilance and continued efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens in the province.
Liquor was confiscated during a roadblock outside Plettenberg Bay.
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