Drugs, firearms arrests

Female petrol station owner among those nabbed in R100 000 mandrax bust

TWO ARRESTS were made in Parow in the early hours of yesterday, when members of the Stabilisation Unit discovered two unlicensed firearms and a kilogram of mandrax powder. The arrests came after the unit acted on a tip-off and searched a flat on the corner of Joubert and Piet Retief streets, which resulted in the arrest of a 37-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man.

Police spokesperson Andre Traut said the team confiscated a 9mm pistol, a .38 special revolver and drugs, and said the two suspects were to appear in Parow Magistrate’s Court today for the possession of unlicensed firearms and drugs.

The police were kept busy at the weekend with numerous arrests involving drug-related incidents, robberies, and the possession of unlicensed firearms.

In Gugulethu, mandrax worth about R100 000 was confiscated by police during the search of a storeroom at the NY1 petrol station.

The search, after a tip-off, led to the arrest of 47-year-old woman, who was apparently the owner of the filling station, and seven male suspects aged between 23 and 57.

Traut said 2 000 mandrax tablets were confiscated and the arrested were to appear in the Philippi Magistrate’s Court today.

On Friday night, members of Operation Combat discovered mandrax worth about R52 000 during a search of a Renault Clio in Elsies River. The three occupants included a 21-year-old woman and two men, aged 23 and 24. They were arrested on charges of dealing in drugs and were expected to appear in the Goodwood Magistrate’s Court today.

Meanwhile in Strand, the police arrested four armed suspects for the armed robbery of a cigarette delivery vehicle on Friday. The incident, on Plato Street in Gordon’s Bay, led to the confiscation of an unlicensed firearm and other stolen items.

Traut said the suspects were caught during an attempt to escape in a silver Toyota Yaris with false number plates, believed stolen in Lwandle earlier this month.

The four, aged between 28 and 37, will also appear in the Strand Magistrate’s Court today.

“We will continue with our efforts to eradicate the lucrative drug trade in this province and encourage communities to assist us by providing information on any criminal activity,” he said.

WE ENCOURAGE COMMUNITIES TO ASSIST US BY PROVIDING INFORMATION