PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Plettenberg Bay police and other authorities have made it a priority to crack down on the drug trade, an initiative that led to several successful arrests over the past few weeks.
The latest incident took place on Sunday 1 November after the Plettenberg Bay visible policing unit responded to a complaint about a suspect who had threatened a local with a firearm.
Southern Cape police spokesperson Captain Malcolm Pojie said on arrival at a tavern in Qolweni, police spotted the suspect, but the man took off. "The officers chased him down and upon searching him, found an unlicensed firearm in his possession. He was arrested and the weapon and magazine, carrying live rounds, were confiscated," Pojie said.
Further investigation took officers to the 27-year-old suspect's home in the Crags, where police found more 9mm rounds of ammunition, 140 Mandrax tablets, cannabis and 364 straws of tik. Pojie said the drugs' estimated street value is just short of R63 000.
The suspect faces charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, illegal possession of ammunition and the unlawful possession of drugs.
Eden Cluster Commander, Major-General Oswald Reddy, commended the members for their vigilance.
Bitou Municipality's Public Safety Department has also intensified efforts in combating drug-related crimes. Senior Public Safety manager Andile Sakati said these efforts paid off recently when members, while on patrol on 16 October, apprehended a suspect at the public toilets next to the taxi rank in the town centre, who had a large quantity of drugs in his possession.
"A case had been opened at the police station," Sakati said.
Four days later officials received reports of a "suspicious silver vehicle" parked in front of the LM in Plett restaurant in the town's Main Street for about 24 hours. "Public Safety personnel searched the vehicle and found a large quantity of Mandrax.
The driver of the vehicle was arrested and a case was opened by police. The department works hand-in-hand with police, community policing forums and other crime-fighting bodies to fight crime and drug trafficking," said Sakati.
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