An effort to safeguard communities from serious and violent crimes resulted in the arrest of twelve suspects on charges relating to possession of drugs, dealing in drugs, dealing in liquor as well as possession of an unlicensed firearm during various operations in Oudtshoorn and Calitzdorp respectively.
The crime prevention operations were conducted by the Eden Cluster Crime Prevention Team in conjunction with Crime Intelligence, Calitzdorp Crime Prevention Unit, Oudtshoorn Crime Prevention Unit and Attaqua K9. It commenced on Thursday, 11 November 2020 when the police descended on a house at Richard Street, Bridgeton. Upon searching the premises they found 86 gram of dagga inside. A 23 year old suspect was arrested on a charge of possession of drugs.
This operation proceeded to known drug outlets at Avontuur Street, Richard Street and Van der Riet Street where suspects aged between 24 and 39 were arrested on various charges of possession of drugs after small amounts of Mandrax, Tik and dagga were found in their possession.
Furthermore, police continued with their efforts to remove drugs from the street when this operation took the police to a house at Bergsig, Calitzdorp on Friday, 13 November 2020 at about 21:00. A search of the premises ensued when the members found drugs with an estimated street value of R11 000. They confiscated 184 Mandrax tablets, 10 Tik straws and an undisclosed amount of cash. The police arrested three suspects aged 29, 33 and 42 on charges of dealing in drugs.
All of the suspects are still in custody pending their court appearance.
In the meantime, efforts to address liquor abuse resulted in the arrest of a 48 year old suspect on Friday evening (2020-11-13) on charges of selling liquor without licence following covert operations at liquor outlet at Angeline La Kay Street, Bridgeton. A 61 year old suspect was also arrested on a similar offence at Bongulethu last night, Saturday, 14 November 2020. Small quantities of liquor were also confiscated at these outlets.
In an unrelated incident, the police seized an unlicensed firearm at Groenfontein, Calitzdorp on Thursday, 12 November 2020. A tipoff was received from a member of the public and the members attached to the Calitzdorp police swiftly responded to this information when they found a Taurus .38 Special Revolver with 49 rounds of ammunition in a safe at the residence. They confiscated these items and arrested a 70 year old suspect on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
Drug and alcohol abuse remains one of the contributors to violent crimes. Similar operations will be conducted to ensure that communities are and feel safe.
