Law enforcement has struck another blow against drug trafficking in Bellville following the seizure of drugs worth more than R2.7 million at a known hotspot in the area yesterday.

Metro Police spokesperson Ruth Solomons says officers were conducting patrols at Parksig Villas, a known drug location, when they uncovered a large quantity of drugs.

“The K9 officer, Virus, was let out of the vehicle to conduct a sweep of the parking area, and soon enough, Virus stopped next to a vehicle, indicating to his handler that he had found something.”

Solomons says officers acted on the information, looked through the windows of the hatchback and spotted two bags of mandrax tablets.

“They sought permission from the Provincial Narcotics Unit to break into the vehicle and found 51 bags of mandrax, seven loose mandrax tablets, 300g of cocaine and 300g of tik in the boot.”

Authorities confirmed that the drugs have an estimated street value of just over R2.7 million.

The contraband was booked in at Bellville SAPS (South African Police Service) as abandoned, while the vehicle was taken to Stikland for further investigation.

The Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, has since praised the K9 Unit, emphasising that the operation demonstrates the value of specialised policing units and the importance of sustained investment into local law enforcement capabilities.

“This confiscation represents far more than just the seizure of narcotics. Every shipment of drugs removed from our streets disrupts the criminal economy, weakens gang networks and helps prevent further violence, addiction and destruction in our communities. The City of Cape Town has consistently shown its commitment to improving public safety through substantial investments in additional law enforcement officers, specialised units, technology, training and operational resources. These investments are yielding results and adding important policing capacity within the broader safety environment of the Western Cape.”

Marais added that collaboration between SAPS, Metro Police, provincial government and communities remains essential in the fight against violent crime and drug trafficking.