GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - A major crime-combatting operation across the Garden Route has resulted in 119 arrests for drug-related offences, as police intensified efforts to curb substance abuse in the region.
The operation, led by the South African Police Service in the Western Cape, ran from Friday, 10 April to Sunday, 12 April, with a strong focus on areas in and around George.
Several arrests were made in local hotspots, including Pacaltsdorp (13), Conville (11), Oudtshoorn (11) and Dysselsdorp (10), while eight suspects were arrested for dealing in drugs, four of them in Calitzdorp. Police confiscated small quantities of mandrax, tik and dagga during the operations.
One of the more significant busts took place in De Rust, where vigilant officers intercepted a suspicious vehicle during patrols on Friday evening. Upon investigation, members discovered a parcel containing 950 mandrax tablets, along with a small quantity of mandrax powder, with an estimated street value of R57 000.
Two men, aged 36 and 39, were arrested on charges of dealing in drugs. The vehicle they were travelling in, a Mazda Midge, was also seized.
Police said the suspects remain in custody and are expected to appear in their respective courts once formally charged.
Authorities have reiterated that these operations form part of ongoing efforts to tackle substance abuse, which remains a significant contributor to serious and violent crime in the Garden Route.
Some of the confiscated items.
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