The Mossel Bay, Overstrand and Swartland K-9 Units, in partnership with the areas Rural Safety Units (RSUs), continue to make inroads in the fight against crime, particularly in their communities.
Between 4 and 17 December 2023, the units with various municipal law enforcement agencies and the South African Police Service, arrested 57 people for various crimes.
Of the 57 arrested, 32 were apprehended in the Overstrand municipal area, three in Mossel Bay and 22 were arrested in the Swartland.
This is according to the Western Cape Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety.
“In total, 18kg of dagga was confiscated in the last two weeks, along with more than 726 mandrax tablets. Other contraband, including West Coast Rock Lobster, their tails and abalone were also confiscated,” the department said.
It said the Mossel Bay K-9 unit had various operations, which included searches at two different addresses in Herbetsdale, where a combined total of 1kg of dagga, including more than 155 mandrax tablets and 21 plastic bankies, suspected to be tik, were discovered and confiscated.
One person was also found with half mandrax tablets at a taxi rank in the Mossel Bay’s central business district.
The department said the Swartland units had operations in Malmesbury, Moorreesburg, Riebeek-Valley, Vredendal, Vredeburg, Saldanha Bay, Yezerfontein and Piketberg with suspects arrested for among other things, dealing in liquor, possession of drugs, dealing in drugs and possession of stolen property.
The units also confiscated 505 mandrax tablets, 4kg parcels of dagga and 3 small zipper bags of tik.
“Amongst others, the Overstand arrests included 9 for possessions of drugs; 2 for dealing in drugs, 5 for illegal possession of marine life and 9 wanted suspects. This unit confiscated 13kg’s of dagga, 6 mandrax tablets, 32 West Coast Rock Lobster, 35 West Coast Rock Lobster tails and 35 whole abandoned abalone,” the department said.
Western Cape MEC of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen, commended the K-9 and Rural Safety Units for their continued effort.
Allen said the provincial government has made a commitment that the province’s K-9 and Rural Safety Units will be more visible throughout the festive season.
“These results are testament to their activity and effective execution. These units are demonstrating what the Western Cape Safety Plan seeks to achieve, particularly since we want our residents to live in improved and safer environments,” Allen said.
K-9 unit is a specialised group of law enforcement officers who use service dogs to perform the responsibilities of a general police officer. In addition to their usual duties, each K-9 officer is also a dog handler, meaning that they have to train and care for their canine partner. – SAnews.gov.za
