Police raid new cannabis shop, arrest man

SEDGEFIELD NEWS - A man was arrested and more than R80 000 worth of dagga products were confiscated after George police raided a Sedgefield shop, just two hours after opening for the first time, over the Easter weekend.

Police spokesperson Captain Malcolm Pojie said members of the Outeniqua dog unit acted on information received about the illegal dealing in cannabis products at the shop.

'Substantial amount confiscated'
"Information led members to the shop, which had opened its doors for the first time just two hours earlier. Police searched the shop and during their efforts found and confiscated a substantial amount of merchandise containing forms of cannabis in the shop," Pojie said.

He added that the merchandise included cannabis oils, sweets, cookies/rusks as well as White Widow, Wedding Cake, Gelato 33, and Gorilla Cookies (various strains of cannabis) – all of the items containing cannabis. Police also confiscated an undisclosed amount of cash. Pojie confirmed that the confiscated merchandise has an estimated value of about R80 000.

Man in court this week
A 31-year-old old man from Wilderness was arrested and was scheduled to appear in the Knysna Magistrate's Court during the course of the week but was released on a warning on 21 April.

He will have to appear in court on August 15. He faces a charge of illegal dealing in drugs.

A family member of the man, who is also from Wilderness, opened a similar store at the Milkwood Market on the very same day. He is also a business partner for the store in Sedgefield.

According to information, the two men invested in two franchises of a company who has opened up to 40 stores countrywide, with its head office in Brits.

A missing signature of approval from the police was the reason the store in Wilderness decided not to sell flower stock over the weekend.

The businessmen had to wait until this week Tuesday for the police's stamp of approval. However, the partner at the Sedgefield store decided to take the chance and go ahead.

Pojie said the operation was part of eradicating the illegal distribution of drugs which is believed to be a major crime contributor in the Western Cape, despite recent changes to the legislation legalising the private cultivation and consumption of dagga.

"The selling or dealing in prohibited drugs remains an offence that needs to be policed," Pojie said.Provincial police management commended the members involved for their commitment to eradicate drugs and also encouraged them to continue with their efforts to rid the community of people involved in the illegal selling of drugs.

Try one of these if you are feeling like a cookie.