Southern Cape POP Unit clamps down on illegal dagga worth R345 000

EDEN CLUSTER – Geared and armed with search warrants, members attached to the Southern Cape Public Order Police (POPS) based in George pounced on a premises in Tabatha Street, Zone 6 Thembalethu on Friday evening in an ongoing effort to eradicate the influx of and the illegal distribution of drugs in our communities that usually contributes to the commission of other serious crime such as gender-based violence and femicide as well as domestic violence.

These members acted on information received and pounced on a house situated in the mentioned street, where they ensued with a search and found a substantial amount of dagga in a container on the said yard that is usually doing business as a barbershop. The arrested a suspect in connection with the find.

Thereafter they proceeded to the house structure that is situated on the same premises. While approaching the house, members detected a strong dagga-odour. They found and requested the owner to accompany them into the house. Members followed the strong odour of dagga that led them to the bedroom of the house where they had to forcefully gain entrance as the occupant of the room refused entry from the inside of the room. They then discovered a larger amount of high-grade dagga which the occupant was busy processing and wrapping it into compressed vacuum packs, probably to be redistributed into the lucrative market.

Subsequently, four suspects aged 52, 33, 26 and 22 were arrested and charged with Illegal Dealing in Drugs (Dagga). All four suspects are scheduled to appear in the Thembalethu Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, Monday, 27 June 2022 on the mentioned charges. Investigation has been assigned to our Provincial Detectives attached to Organised Crime, Narcotics Section.

Provincial Management had nothing but praise for the members involved in bringing these illegal peddlers to book. To address major contributing factors to crime remains a priority and police will be relentless in the fight against the illegal distribution and use of illegal drugs that tarnish our communities.

Source: South African Police Service