Three suspects arrested over drug busts

POLICE have arrested suspects for alleged drug dealing during festive season crime-combating operations in the province.

Police spokesperson Malcolm Pojie said the SAPS in Laingsburg confiscated a substantial amount of drugs during operations along main entry and exit routes between the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape, with three arrests made over the past week.

“(On January 3), members attached to Laingsburg SAPS were performing stop and search operations when they stopped a taxi travelling within the prohibited time of the curfew, contravening the conditions of the Disaster Management Act during lockdown adjusted level 3. Members did a routine check and upon searching the vehicle allegedly discovered four bags containing a total amount of dagga weighing 70.75kg,” said Pojie.

A 27-year-old man was arrested and appeared in the Laingsburg Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Pojie added that in a separate incident on Saturday at midnight, officers pulled over a “suspicious looking” taxi travelling towards Cape Town along Voortrekker Road in Laingsburg. “(Officers) found nine bags of dagga in the trailer of the taxi. Subsequently, they arrested a 27-year-old man in connection with the find. He is currently in detention and (is) scheduled to appear in the Laingsburg Magistrate's Court on a charge of dealing in drugs.”

In Oudtshoorn, the Attaqua K9 Unit confiscated mandrax and tik with an estimated value of R1.15million last week.

Pojie said a 35-year-old woman was arrested in connection with the bust and appeared in Oudtshoorn Magistrate's Court yesterday on charges relating to dealing in drugs.

“The vigilant members of the K9 unit conducted a stop and search operation near the Oudtshoorn taxi rank recently, when they spotted (a) suspicious woman fiddling with a large suitcase, trying to hide it from the members. They immediately deployed a drug-detection dog who responded positively to the big suitcase. Upon searching the case, members found 9 000 mandrax tablets (branded Boss) as well as 2kg of tik inside the suitcase,” said Pojie.

Report crime-related information via Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or SMS Crimeline on 32211.