Metro police find klomp drugs behind Strand ou's fridge

A routine traffic stop in Strand triggered a major drug bust after Metro Police officers found tik and a vrag Mandrax tablets hidden behind a fridge at a suspect's home.

According to Metro Police, officers pulled over a driver just after 12.30pm on Sunday. When he failed to produce identification, he asked officers to accompany him to his nearby home to fetch the documents.

Once inside, the 44-year-old man became visibly nervous but denied having any illegal substances. He gave officers permission to search the premises. Weggestiek behind the fridge, they found a plastic bag containing 54.46 grams of tik and 603 whole Mandrax tablets. The suspect was arrested and detained at Lwandle SAPS.

In Bellville on the same day, Metro Police officers conducting foot patrols at the busy taxi rank spotted three men in what appeared to be a drug transaction.

When officers approached, the men attempted to flee. One suspect, aged 33, was apprehended and found with 591 Mandrax tablets hidden in his backpack. He was arrested and taken to Bellville SAPS for further investigation.

JP Smith, the City’s Mayco Member for Safety and Security, said the latest drug seizures highlights the scale of the crisis and the need for greater policing authority.

“Drugs continue to flood our streets, and many of our recent successes involve confiscating large quantities from individuals. But the time has come for the City to do more. With expanded policing powers, we can begin clamping down on the syndicates that supply these dealers.”

He added that enforcement agencies are working daily to remove illegal substances from communities but need additional tools to disrupt the criminal ecosystem driving gang violence.

“We are continually reducing the availability of illicit substances through our enforcement efforts, but we can go further to disrupt the criminal networks that prey on the vulnerable.”

“Because the same gangs that are selling drugs are fuelling the gang violence in our communities, and by shutting down these networks, we can make our streets and communities safer if given the opportunity,” Smith said.

Metro Police officers made 121 arrests for the week and issued 2 920 fines. Law Enforcement officers made 176 arrests and issued 6 378 notices, while LEAP officers arrested four suspects and confiscated four firearms over the weekend.

Traffic Services recorded 64 446 offences, impounded 260 public transport vehicles and executed 2 226 warrants of arrest. Of the 58 suspects arrested, 51 were for driving under the influence of alcohol, one for reckless and negligent driving and four on other charges.

The City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre logged 1 511 incidents. These included 87 cases of assault, 51 incidents of domestic violence and 48 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents. The highest demand for assistance was for medical incidents, with 514 calls logged, followed by 334 by-law matters, 158 traffic-related incidents and 96 fire-related emergencies.