GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - A total of 16 suspects, of which three are from George, were arrested during the take-down of a syndicate of drug traffickers on Thursday 16 March.
The arrests stems from a series of raids across the Southern Cape and Gqeberha.
Apart from the three in George, seven suspects were arrested in Oudtshoorn, one in Gqeberha, one in Ladismith, two in De Rust and two in Calitzdorp. The suspects are aged between 32 and 58 and have been controlling the Southern Cape region for some years.
It is reported that the main target has been operating in the drug trade in the Oudtshoorn area for decades.
According to a spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), Zinzi Hani, search warrants were executed by a multi-disciplinary team led by the Hawks in the Western Cape together with Crime Intelligence, the Oudtshoorn K9 Unit, District Crime Combatting Team, public order policing unit (Pops) as well as the Hawks teams based in George, Beaufort West and the Eastern Cape.
“This syndicate was mainly operating in the Garden Route District which is George, De Rust, Oudtshoorn, Ladismith, Pacaltsdorp and Calitzdorp,” Hani said.
“The main suppliers of these drugs are from George and Gqeberha. Since the inception of this operation from 2019 until March 2023, a total of 5 354 Mandrax tablets and 816 grams of tik to the value of R421 070 was seized from the suspects. Consequently, a total of 32 cases were registered with 54 charges.”
The sixteen suspects will face charges of dealing in drugs, money laundering and pattern of racketeering activity and their first court appearance will be today, Friday 17 March, in the Oudtshoorn Magistrate’s Court.
“The investigation had been ongoing over a period of time, helping the team to gain insight into the criminal activities of the syndicate,” said Hani.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Western Cape, Major General Mathipa Makgato, commended the team for their sterling work in showing great tenacity to relentlessly pursue the individuals that are causing the most harm to our communities.
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