The South African Police Service‚ in its effort to combat drug dealing in the country‚ has embarked on a multi-disciplinary intelligence-driven operation‚ dubbed “Operation Zonke” (meaning everything)‚ police spokesman Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said on Saturday.
Members from Crime Intelligence‚ the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation and Visible Policing had identified and raided several drug outlets throughout the country‚ he said.
During the release of the 2014/2015 Annual Crime Statistics‚ the Minister of Police‚ Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko and the National Commissioner of Police‚ General Riah Phiyega‚ alluded to there being a “causal link between drug and alcohol abuse and the increase in violent crimes“.
“The focus on drug dealing and the raids on the identified drug outlets forms part of Government’s National Drug Master Plan‚ which places the responsibility on all government departments to act decisively against the scourge of drug abuse.
“The SAPS’s mandate includes five key departmental programmes‚ namely‚ Administration‚ Visible Policing‚ Detective Services‚ Crime Intelligence and Protection and Security Services.
“All five programmes provide for drug demand and supply reduction strategies. Crime Intelligence’s role entails initiating intelligence-driven operations relating to criminal groups involved in drugs‚ and gathering‚ collating and analysing related intelligence information‚ as well as providing intelligence and information on precursor chemical movements nationally and internationally‚” Brig Naidoo said.
“This operation began at noon on 1 October 2015 and 24 hours later‚ over 107 drug outlets have been targeted in the nine provinces‚ over 100 suspects have been arrested and a variety of drugs including the ‘killer drug that is deadly and addictive’ nyaope (whoonga)‚ dagga (including hashish)‚ methacathanone (Cat)‚ crystal meth (Tik)‚ cocaine‚ heroin and mandrax have been seized.”
One of the highlights‚ he added‚ was the detection of a sophisticated hydroponic Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)) drug lab in Richards Bay which manufactured “cannabis oil“.
“The suspect‚ a former policeman (who was dishonourably discharged in the 1990s) is at large. This THC drug is believed to be exported to the United Kingdom and Holland and sells for approximately R1‚000 per gram‚” Brig Naidoo said.
“Further to this‚ on 1 October 2015‚ intelligence was received that on the N8 a white Ford Bantum bakkie would be transporting dagga. It was en route from KZN to Galeshewe‚ Dingaan Hostel. A stakeout was arranged and the vehicle was searched and dagga weighing 154.5kg to the approximate street value of R772‚500 was confiscated. Two suspects were arrested. The operation was conducted with Kimberley Crime Intelligence and the Flying Squad.
“The operation is the second of many operations to be conducted in this regard. In June this year during a similar multi-disciplinary team searched 168 drug outlets‚ arrested 132 suspects and registered 107 cases. These operations will be conducted on an ongoing basis‚” Brig Naidoo said.
The National Commissioner‚ General Riah Phiyega‚ has praised the team for the sterling work. “The work done by our police officers is indicative that the South Africa Police Service is committed to routing out this plague of drug abuse which is destroying our society‚” she said.
“These operations will be conducted on an ongoing basis until we are satisfied that are communities are free of this scourge‚” added Gen Phiyega.
Police swoop on suspected drug outlets
The South African Police Service‚ in its effort to combat drug dealing in the country‚ has embarked on a multi-disciplinary intelligence-driven operation‚ dubbed “Operation Zonke” (meaning everything)‚ police spokesman Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said on Saturday.
Members from Crime Intelligence‚ the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation and Visible Policing had identified and raided several drug outlets throughout the country‚ he said.
During the release of the 2014/2015 Annual Crime Statistics‚ the Minister of Police‚ Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko and the National Commissioner of Police‚ General Riah Phiyega‚ alluded to there being a “causal link between drug and alcohol abuse and the increase in violent crimes“.
“The focus on drug dealing and the raids on the identified drug outlets forms part of Government’s National Drug Master Plan‚ which places the responsibility on all government departments to act decisively against the scourge of drug abuse.
“The SAPS’s mandate includes five key departmental programmes‚ namely‚ Administration‚ Visible Policing‚ Detective Services‚ Crime Intelligence and Protection and Security Services.
“All five programmes provide for drug demand and supply reduction strategies. Crime Intelligence’s role entails initiating intelligence-driven operations relating to criminal groups involved in drugs‚ and gathering‚ collating and analysing related intelligence information‚ as well as providing intelligence and information on precursor chemical movements nationally and internationally‚” Brig Naidoo said.
“This operation began at noon on 1 October 2015 and 24 hours later‚ over 107 drug outlets have been targeted in the nine provinces‚ over 100 suspects have been arrested and a variety of drugs including the ‘killer drug that is deadly and addictive’ nyaope (whoonga)‚ dagga (including hashish)‚ methacathanone (Cat)‚ crystal meth (Tik)‚ cocaine‚ heroin and mandrax have been seized.”
One of the highlights‚ he added‚ was the detection of a sophisticated hydroponic Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)) drug lab in Richards Bay which manufactured “cannabis oil“.
“The suspect‚ a former policeman (who was dishonourably discharged in the 1990s) is at large. This THC drug is believed to be exported to the United Kingdom and Holland and sells for approximately R1‚000 per gram‚” Brig Naidoo said.
“Further to this‚ on 1 October 2015‚ intelligence was received that on the N8 a white Ford Bantum bakkie would be transporting dagga. It was en route from KZN to Galeshewe‚ Dingaan Hostel. A stakeout was arranged and the vehicle was searched and dagga weighing 154.5kg to the approximate street value of R772‚500 was confiscated. Two suspects were arrested. The operation was conducted with Kimberley Crime Intelligence and the Flying Squad.
“The operation is the second of many operations to be conducted in this regard. In June this year during a similar multi-disciplinary team searched 168 drug outlets‚ arrested 132 suspects and registered 107 cases. These operations will be conducted on an ongoing basis‚” Brig Naidoo said.
The National Commissioner‚ General Riah Phiyega‚ has praised the team for the sterling work. “The work done by our police officers is indicative that the South Africa Police Service is committed to routing out this plague of drug abuse which is destroying our society‚” she said.
“These operations will be conducted on an ongoing basis until we are satisfied that are communities are free of this scourge‚” added Gen Phiyega.
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