KEY POINTS
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Police arrested 73 suspects during a weekend anti-drug operation in the Western Cape’s Garden Route, with most arrests occurring in Knysna and George.
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Five individuals were arrested in Knysna for drug dealing following raids on known drug outlets, and a firearm was seized in a separate incident in White Location.
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Authorities vowed to intensify operations in high-risk communities and urged continued public cooperation in fighting crime.
A coordinated law enforcement crackdown across the Garden Route District in the Western Cape over the weekend led to the arrest of 73 individuals on drug charges and the seizure of an illegal firearm, police confirmed on Sunday.
The operation, aimed at dismantling drug networks and removing illicit weapons from vulnerable communities, ran from Friday through early Sunday morning.
According to a statement from the Western Cape Police, the campaign targeted hotspots across the district, particularly focusing on areas where drug trafficking has been a persistent concern. Police carried out a series of intelligence-driven raids, particularly in Knysna, George, Oudtshoorn, and Conville, resulting in the arrest of multiple suspects and the confiscation of various narcotics including tik, mandrax, and dagga.
“The police arrested eight suspects for dealing in drugs and 65 for possession of drugs,” the statement read. “Most of the arrests were effected at the police stations of Knysna (24), George (11), Oudtshoorn (seven), and Conville (seven).”
Targeted raids on known drug outlets in Knysna
A pivotal moment in the operation occurred on Friday, May 23, when George Public Order Police executed search warrants at five homes in Knysna identified as known drug outlets.
IOL reports that Officers arrested five individuals—three women and two men aged between 25 and 42—for dealing in drugs, and recovered small quantities of tik and mandrax tablets.
“The vigilance of the members led to the arrest of three women and two men aged between 25 and 42 on charges of dealing in drugs,” police said. “Small quantities of tik and mandrax tablets were confiscated during these arrests.”
In a separate incident the following evening, on Saturday, May 24 at around 8:30 p.m., Knysna police responded to a complaint in Bloemfontein near White Location. While attending to the scene, officers heard the distinct sound of a firearm being cocked.
Upon investigating the noise, police noticed a man attempting to discard an object as they approached. A subsequent search led to the recovery of a pistol, which the suspect could not account for.
“The man was unable to account for his possession thereof and was subsequently arrested on a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm,” authorities reported.
This weekend’s operation is the latest in a series of police initiatives targeting drug trafficking routes and gang activity in the Western Cape. The Garden Route, traditionally seen as a popular tourist region, has increasingly faced criminal infiltration, raising alarms among residents and business owners.
Western Cape Provincial Commissioner Lt-Gen Thembisile Patekile praised the officers for their swift action and reaffirmed the province’s commitment to eradicating organized crime. “We will continue to intensify our operations, especially in communities that are being terrorized by drugs and illegal firearms,” he said in a follow-up statement.
The police have urged residents to continue cooperating by reporting suspicious activity, stressing the importance of community involvement in sustaining crime prevention efforts.
With the drug crisis continuing to affect urban and semi-rural areas alike, security analysts say that sustained operations like these are critical to breaking the cycle of dependency and violence that often accompanies narcotics distribution in South Africa.
