Western Cape police have made significant arrests during their ongoing Safer Festive Season Operations, recovering an illegal firearm and substantial quantities of drugs in separate incidents across the province.
The most dramatic arrest occurred on Friday night, 19 December, when Lentegeur Crime Prevention Unit members were patrolling Woodlands.
According to Sergeant Wesley Twigg, officers spotted a man who immediately began running upon seeing their vehicle, prompting a foot chase that ended in Faraday Court.
“During the search of the suspect, officers discovered a 9mm pistol loaded with 17 rounds of ammunition,” said Twigg. The man was immediately arrested for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
In Diepriver, Mitchells Plain Crime Combatting Unit officers acted on intelligence about drug distribution activities along Main Road. Their investigation led to the search of a suspected vehicle, which yielded a massive find of 21 000 mandrax tablets. An adult male was arrested for drug dealing.
Meanwhile, Operation Lockdown III members conducted a search at a premises in Discovery Street, Garden Village, Maitland, uncovering a significant drug cache. Officers seized 2 370 grams of crystal meth, along with small packets containing cocaine, mandrax, and dagga. Another adult male was arrested for drug dealing.
These arrests highlight the intensified police presence across the Western Cape as part of the annual Safer Festive Season Operations, aimed at reducing crime during the busy holiday period when criminal activities typically increase.
All three suspects are scheduled to appear in court today (Monday 22 December) – at Mitchells Plain, Wynberg, and Cape Town Magistrate’s courts respectively.
