Drugs, guns and stolen goods seized as police make arrests across Garden Route and Central Karoo

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - A 31-year-old man appeared in the George Magistrate’s Court on Friday 6 March after police seized drugs with an estimated street value of R160 000 during a raid in Lavalia.

According to police spokesperson Warrant Officer Christopher Spies, members attached to the Outeniqua K9 Unit and Western Cape Organised Crime Investigations acted on information about alleged illegal activities at a residence in Gelderbloem Street on Wednesday 4 March.

“Members searched the premises and confiscated 260 mandrax tablets, 421g of tik and an undisclosed amount of cash,” said Spies.

The suspect, a Nigerian national, was arrested on a charge of dealing in drugs and appeared in court on Friday. The matter was postponed to Wednesday 11 March for a formal bail application, and the accused remains in custody.

Spies said the arrest forms part of ongoing efforts by police to close illegal drug outlets and remove drugs from communities.

A wider crackdown across the Garden Route district over the weekend resulted in the arrest of 17 additional suspects on drug-related charges. The operations, which started on Friday 6 March and concluded on Sunday morning, involved several police units executing search and seizure warrants in Riversdale, Knysna, Oudtshoorn, Dysselsdorp, Albertinia and Pacaltsdorp.

During the operations police confiscated mandrax, tik and dagga.

Drugs and cash seized in Riversdale

In Riversdale, police raided a house in White Street on Friday after receiving information about suspected drug dealing. Officers found six people on the premises and confiscated 30 sachets of tik and 19 mandrax tablets. Six suspects aged between 17 and 26 were arrested.

Later the same day, police conducted a sting operation at a house in Rosebud Street, Kwanokuthula, where they confiscated a small quantity of mandrax and arrested two men aged between 25 and 28.

In Oudtshoorn, members of the Crime Prevention Unit carried out an intelligence-driven operation at a premises in Thabo Mbeki Square on Saturday 7 March. Officers confiscated 298 mandrax tablets with an estimated street value of R17 000, as well as eight cellphones believed to be stolen. A 42-year-old man was arrested on charges of dealing in drugs and possession of suspected stolen property.

In a separate but related effort, police targeting unlicensed firearms, illicit drugs and stolen goods scored more arrests on the N1 between Prince Albert in the Central Karoo and Paarl.

Spies said concerted efforts by police led to the confiscation of unlicensed firearms, stolen property and a large quantity of cash, as well as the arrest of five men.

On Friday 6 March at about 16:00, members of the Garden Route and Central Karoo Crime Intelligence, the Central Karoo Flying Squad and K9 units stopped a vehicle with three occupants at Prince Albert. A search revealed a 9mm pistol, an imitation firearm, 48 rounds of various calibre ammunition and an undisclosed amount of cash. All three were arrested and the items confiscated.

About an hour later, Breede River K9 intercepted a second vehicle at the entrance to Paarl. Police found an undisclosed amount of cash that the two occupants could not account for, leading to their arrest. Both vehicles, Toyota Starlett rentals, were seized.

“It is believed the cash was stolen during robberies perpetrated earlier, and the circumstances form part of an ongoing investigation,” said Spies.

The five suspects, aged between 38 and 50, remain in police custody and will appear in court once formally charged. They are facing charges of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, as well as possession of suspected stolen property. Additional charges are expected as the investigation unfolds.

Western Cape police management commended the officers for their coordinated efforts, which resulted in the arrest of the perpetrators and recovery of the stolen property and weapons.

Drugs seized in George.