Paarl police pulled out all the stops this past weekend making use of various crime fighting resources, including helicopters, to assist with raid operations.

Police spokesperson Capt Louise du Plessis said the operation focused on residential and rural hot spots, in addition to various roadblocks that were held in search of illegal activity or possessions.

She said: “During these operations arrests were made for charges of forged licence discs on vehicles, liquor confiscations at illegal shebeens and drug related arrests. These operations held have proven to be successful as there has been a substantial decrease in crime in the area due to successful arrests.”

The drug bust was done at a St Francis Avenue residence in Northern Paarl in which one man was arrested for possession of mandrax pills and tik.

This raid attracted the attention of concerned residents on the Paarl Crime, Incidents in SA and Traffic INFO-Facebook-group.

One user asked what possible use helicopters could prove during such operations and if suspects fleeing on foot could even be traced up high in the sky. Du Plessis said she will not respond to such comments as a spokesperson for Paarl police.

However, another user on the same group post replied: “The use of helicopters have a lot of value during [police] operations, especially when suspects flee and hide in long grassy areas.

“If the pilots and ground troops know the area well and communicate efficiently, it has a lot of value to catch suspects.”