SAPS provincial cooperation yields good results

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

Western Cape police say provincial cross border operations have -province cooperation have yielded good results over the past week.

Police spokesperson, captain Malcom Pojie, says there had been excellent cooperation between police in the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape, between the 24th and 29th of March to stem the flow of drugs and illegal goods between the provinces.

He says these successes include the confiscation of dagga worth R899 000 and counterfeit goods estimated at R1.05m.

Pojie says this integrated approach includes all police units, provincial and municipal traffic deparments, SARS, private brand holders and a host of other government agenices.

He says "this integrated approach includes all SAPS-Units, Provincial and local Municipal Traffic departments, SARS, NCRS (formally known as SABS), Brand holders, Dept. of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Nature Conservation and Home Affairs (Immigration Officers). All efforts were coordinated from a Joint Operational Centre that was established in Beaufort-West at the beginning of the operation. "

"In total we have arrested 191suspects as part of the above mentioned operation which covers most of the border posts between the Western Cape and the other two provinces. Eighty-four (84) arrests were made for mainly drug-but also liquor related offences, whilst the other arrests represent those for the possession of stolen goods, burglaries, business robberies and other offences. Fines to the amount of more than RR25 000.00 were issued for traffic violations and other minor offences," Pojie said.

He says the success was evident when on Tuesday, 25 March 2014 "observant members from the Beaufort-West dog unit spotted a suspicious Iveco bus with four occupants that was en-route to Cape Town. The members pulled over the vehicle at approximately 10 km outside Beaufort-West."

"They ensued with a search and found 39 bags of dagga that was later weight at 420kg with an estimated street value of R588 000.00. The four occupants, Unathi Mfihlo(37), Simamkele Magwaza(24), Msimelelo Mbucane(21) and Nonledo Xekele(41) were arrested and brought before the Beaufort-West magistrates' court on Tuesday, 27 March 2014 on a charge of Dealing in Dagga. They were remanded in custody and the matter was postponed to 2 April 2014 for a formal bail application."

Pojie says another major breakthrough was made against illegal drug trafficking when members arrested a 29-year old Cameroonian woman from Cape Town who was found in possession of 225 grams of Tik in Keimoes on Tuesday.

"Further investigation reveals that the Tik to the estimated value of R67 500. 00 was destined for delivery in Kimberly. She appeared in the Keimoes magistrates' court on 27 March 2014. Immigration officials attached to the Department of Home Affairs will now investigate the legality of her being in South Africa. She was remanded in custody. The case was postponed to 2 May 2014 for further investigation," said Pojie.

He added that "on Friday, 28 Match 2014 at approximately 23:50 members attached to the central Karoo K-9 (Beaufort-West Dog Unit) pulled over an Iveco taxi-kombi during a routine roadblock on the Aberdeen R61-road. They search the kombi and found nine (9) bags containing dagga in the kombi. Further investigation revealed that the bags of dagga with a weight if 71.9kg, estimated at about R100 000.00, belonged to four individual who were occupants in the kombi. The four suspects, two ladies (aged 34 and 50) as well as two men (aged 32 and 47) were arrested on the spot and the dagga was confiscated. They are scheduled to appear in the Beaufort-West magistrates' court today, 31 March 2014."

A significant decline in most categories of crime was achieved for the duration of the cross border operation, Pojie said.