KIMBERLEY – An Intelligence led crime prevention operation by the Upington Border Police, Upington K9 Unit, Paballelo and Kakamas Visible Police yielded much anticipated results when drugs and counterfeit goods worth more than R300 000 were intercepted in the ZF Mgcawu cluster. On Tuesday, 17 March 2020, the Upington Border Police, Upington K9 Unit, Paballelo and Kakamas Visible Police raided several houses in Paballelo and Kakamas near Upington and seized drugs including dagga, crystal meth, mandrax, counterfeited goods.

The residence of two male suspects aged 24 and 28 was searched and 169 grams of crystal meth(tik) worth R38 025-00 was confiscated subsequent to be found on their premises in Paballelo. A 31-year-old man was arrested for dealing in dagga, after he was found in possession of 1,839Kg of dagga worth R12 387-00 in his tuck-shop in Paballelo. During the raid and search another 22-year-old suspect was also arrested in Paballelo subsequent to be found in possession of mandrax tablets worth R1025-00 and cash to the value of R1604-00 which is believed to have been generated through dealing in drugs.

Counterfeit goods worth R275 845-00 were confiscated after compliance inspection was conducted on a local shop in Kakamas. Among counterfeit goods which were confiscated during compliance inspection included illicit medications, illicit body lotions, creams, illicit cigarettes and tobaccos.

The Cluster Commander of the ZF Mgcawu, Brigadier Besnaar praised the community members for coming forth with the information which led to the arrested of the perpetrators. And continued to applaud the police for responding competently to the call and removed drugs in the ZF Mgcawu cluster.

The suspects are expected to appear before the Upington Magistrate’s Court soon on counts of dealing in drugs and dagga

Source: South African Police Service