Massive police raids target crime hotspots in Garden Route

Update

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS – Surprise police raids were conducted last week throughout the Garden Route district in an operation involving multi-disciplinary forces to rid communities of drugs and to close down unlicensed liquor outlets.

The operation consisted of members of the Public Order Police, Garden Route Crime Combatting Team, K9 with trained narcotic and explosive dogs, crime intelligence, Crime Prevention Unit members of local police stations, as well as the newly trained police constables.

The operation started in Plettenberg Bay on Wednesday 11 February and continued in Knysna and Sedgefield on Thursday.

The operation was conducted under the theme "More boots on the ground to enhance police visiblity", and was a great success, according to Southern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Chris Spies, who accompanied the raids in Plettenberg Bay and elsewhere. Knysna-Plett Herald reporter Chris van Gass witnessed the Plettenberg Bay raids in Qolweni and New Horizons.

More than a dozen police vehicles and a number of officers took part in the bust as police moved into crime hotspots to close down illegal alcohol outlets and rid communities of drugs. Crowds gathered to witness the raids and after the police contingent left Edward Street in Qolweni, youths hurled stones at them. As the police moved to New Horisons on the next leg of the operation, there were jeers from the crowd.

Spies said in a statement that "concerted efforts by Western Cape police to curb the proliferation of unlicensed firearms, rid communities of drugs and closing down of unlicensed liquor outlets yielded excellent results". Drugs with an estimated street value of R64 000, a firearm and 494 litres of liquor were confiscated during the operations in the Garden Route District.

"This multi-disciplinary approach was conducted in conjunction with immigration officials from the Department of Home Affairs, law enforcement officers attached to the Bitou and Knysna municipalities, local security companies and community volunteers," said Spies.

It included the closing down of drug outlets and unlicensed liquor premises, as well as stop-and-search operations in crime-ridden areas in Plettenberg Bay (Kranshoek, Qolweni, Kwanokuthula), Sedgefield (Smutsville) and Knysna (central business district and Hornlee). "A total of 23 suspects were arrested, 10 for dealing in drugs, six for possession of drugs, two for selling liquor without a licence, one for possession of stolen property and four in connection with outstanding warrants of arrest."

Police confiscated 322 Mandrax tablets, 820g of dagga, 125 tik straws, 134g of tik, 24 dagga "stoppe" as well as R2 400 cash. The cash confiscated is believed to be proceeds of illicit activities.

"On Thursday, 12 January 2023 the various units armed with search warrants, simultaneously pounced on three drug outlets situated in the vicinity of Witbooi Street, Smutsville, in close proximity to each other," said Spies. "Upon searching the premises, police found Mandrax, dagga, tik and electrical appliances believed to be stolen property. These confiscations led to the arrest of four suspects, two on a charge of dealing in drugs, one for possession of drugs and one for possession of suspected stolen property. Western Cape police management had nothing but praise for the success of the operations."

A line of police vehicles along the N2 at Plettenberg Bay regroup before heading for New Horizons on the next leg of the “surprise” anti-crime operation on Wednesday.