Deployment of police in the Garden Route District yields significant results

The deployment of senior police management and various police units in the Garden Route District on Monday, 22 May 2023 as part of the Western Cape Policing Strategy (CEPPAT) which is aimed at creating safer communities through targeted operations yielded significant results.

The crime combating and detection operations included roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints, stop and search in crime hotspots, searches of drug outlets as well as a targeted approach at taxi ranks. A dedicated team of police members from the Firearms, Liquor, and Second-Hand Goods (FLASH) environment also embarked on compliance inspections at licensed liquor outlets, security companies, scrap yards, and second-hand dealers. Areas covered during the operations included amongst others, George, Mossel Bay, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Oudtshoorn, Uniondale, and Ladismith.

These operations led to the arrest of 76 suspects, 53 for crimes dependent on police actions, and 23 for outstanding warrants of arrest. Police arrested one suspect for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, five suspects for dealing in drugs, eight for possession of drugs, three for dealing in drugs, 29 undocumented persons, and four for possession of stolen property while others were arrested for reported crime. The operation confiscated 248 mandrax tablets, 45 gram tik, 815 gram dagga, nine gram Khat, an unlicensed pistol with two rounds of ammunition, and various items presumed to be stolen.

Those deployed along highways, by-ways, and secondary roads in conjunction with Provincial Traffic searched 612 vehicles and issued 23 traffic fines valued at R32 350-00.

The suspects are expected to make their first court appearances in the respective courts once they have been charged.

The Western Cape provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile commended the forces for their efforts to ensure the effectiveness of the policing strategy for the Province.