South African Police Service (SAPS) officers arrested six people in two separate intelligence driven operations targeting alleged drug dealing in Calvinia, Northern Cape, on Thursday evening, seizing dagga with an estimated combined street value of more than R15,000 and cash suspected to be proceeds of illicit drug sales.
Captain Ivan Magerman, speaking on behalf of SAPS in the Northern Cape, said the arrests followed an intelligence-led Operation Shanela II carried out by members from Namakwa Crime Intelligence, Calvinia Detectives, Calvinia Visible Policing and the Calvinia Task Team.
According to Magerman, police executed a search warrant at a residence in Second Avenue, Calvinia after receiving information that drugs were allegedly being sold from the property.
During the search, officers confiscated two sealed packages containing dagga with an estimated street value of R8,882. Police also seized cash believed to be the proceeds of drug dealing.
A 23 year old woman, together with her 47 year old mother and 61 year old father, was arrested and charged with dealing in dagga.
In a separate intelligence driven operation later that evening, police searched another residence in Second Avenue, where they arrested three men aged 25, 28 and 29.
Magerman said officers seized additional dagga with an estimated street value of R6,640, as well as cash suspected to have been generated through the illegal sale of drugs.
The six suspects have since appeared before court under separate case numbers.
Commenting on the operation, the District Commissioner of SAPS Namakwa, Brigadier Schalk Andrews, praised the officers involved for their dedication in tackling drug-related crime.
“There is no place for drug dealers in our communities. SAPS will continue to relentlessly pursue those who profit from the destruction of lives through the illicit drug trade,” Andrews said.
Magerman said the successful operation demonstrated the value of intelligence-driven policing and coordinated action by specialised and local police units in disrupting alleged drug trafficking networks operating within the district.