Provincial Traffic Officers seized a shipment of drugs and counterfeit clothing valued at approximately R4 million in Laingsburg.
On Tuesday, 13 February, officers intercepted a truck and found 42 bags of compressed dagga weighing two tonnes.
Two people were arrested after the discovery was made. The pair are charged with the possession of an illegal substance and dealing in counterfeit goods.
“Well done to our Provincial Traffic team, who go out every single day, around the clock, to make the Western Cape a safer place for all.” – Mobility MEC, Ricardo Mackenzie
This is the latest in a series of drug busts made on provincial roads this month alone. In recent weeks, authorities seized drugs in Albertina, Mossel Bay and George.
READ MORE: Another big bust in the Western Cape
In the Southern Cape: 2 Kenyan nationals, were arrested on the N2 near Albertinia, after 500 mandrax tablets were found in their possession. The suspects face a charge of dealing in drugs and remain detained.
Meanwhile in Mossel Bay: 7 people have been taken into custody, in connection with drug-related charges. Police spotted the suspects and seized 80 mandrax tablets, 20 grams of tik as well as small quantities of heroin and dagga. The suspects will appear in court, once charged.
Drug-related crime in the country
Last week, the South African Police Service (SAPS) released the third quarterly crime statistics for the 2023/2024 financial year. The latest statistics showed a 1.7% decrease in drug-related crime in the country. Authorities reported 43,243 drug-related cases from October 2023 to December 2023. This is 739 fewer cases when compared to the same period in the previous year.
The Cape Town policing District have dominated the drug-related crime statistics, with 25 stations in the Metro listed in the Top 30 drug-related crime stations. While a decrease in cases has been noted at most of the stations, a substantial amount of drugs were still confiscated during this time.
Mitchell’s Plain, Delft, Lentegeur and Atlantis have been listed as the top five areas in the province, for drug crime to take place.
