GEORGE NEWS - The clampdown on illicit drug and liquor outlets as part of Safer Festive Season crime combatting operations has landed 149 suspects behind bars in the Garden Route District since Thursday 14 December. 

Of these, 103 were arrested for drug-related offences and 46 for driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

The joint crime-combatting operations consist of various police units, provincial traffic, local municipal traffic officials and law enforcement who embarked on search and seizure operations at drug and liquor outlets, roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints and high-density patrols in crime hotspot areas.

The largest portion of arrests were made in George (11), Mossel Bay (9) and Knysna (7).

Four liquor outlets were also closed down and four suspects from Pacaltsdorp, aged between 31 and 40, were arrested for selling liquor without a licence. The police confiscated more than 524 litres of liquor during these operations.

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