A joint police investigation in East London under the banner of Operation Damon has resulted in the arrest of 15 suspects, the seizure of drugs worth R3,5 million and R4 million in cash.
Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi of the Hawks says all the suspects will appear in the East London Magistrate's court on Friday.
Operation Damon conceived in January this year, involved officials from the various police directorates, namely the Hawks, Crime Intelligence, the Tactical Response Team , Public Order Policing, the Forensic Science Laboratory and the K9 Unit.
Police carried out 16 search warrants on Wednesday in four East London suburbs, namely Vergenoeg, Parkside, Bramley, Buffalo Flats and a farm in Kei Road.
At one location, the police found R3 million in cash stashed away in a vehicle and further probing led the team to Kei Road, where almost R1,6 million worth of Mandrax tablets were found inside a trailer that had a concealed compartment to store and move the drugs.
Two people were arrested immediately.
In another raid in Buffalo Flats, the police seized R1,3 million in cash, two cash-counting machines, as well as at least 2 800 Mandrax tablets worth more than R1,6 million.
The following were seized:
-Cocaine rocks, dagga, methamphetamine (Tik) straws and 41 test tubes
-A safe with documents
-R4 300 392,60 in cash believed to be the proceeds of crime
-A total of 54 378 Mandrax tablets worth more than R3 200 000,00
-Two cocaine weighing scales
-Two cash-counting machines
-Computers
-Two vehicles: A BMW sedan and one Toyota Corolla
-Two quad bikes.
Meanwhile, the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service , General Riah Phiyega, congratulated the team on their successful drug-related operation. "The fact that this operation resulted in such a significant seizure of drugs and cash shows the excellent work the police are doing to reduce the influx of drugs in our communities. Criminals need to know that drug activities will not be tolerated in our communities and the results of these operations go a long way in sending that message," she said.
