Northern Cape police intercept drugs during Safer Festive Season roadblock in Garies

A FESTIVE season crime operation led by the Northern Cape provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Koliswa Otola, has resulted in the interception of drugs during a roadblock in Garies in the Namakwa District.

The operation, carried out in the district as part of the South African Police Service’s Safer Festive Season campaign, saw police mount a disruptive roadblock aimed at tightening security along key routes during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

During the operation, officers stopped and searched 136 vehicles and 376 people as police intensified efforts to curb crime and improve safety in local communities.

The operation yielded a significant result when a courier vehicle was intercepted and searched. Police discovered a parcel containing dagga with an estimated street value of R28,400. An enquiry has since been opened to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shipment.

Northern Cape police spokesperson Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said the operation forms part of a broader provincial strategy to clamp down on drug trafficking and other criminal activities during the festive season.

SAPS management has reiterated a zero-tolerance stance on the transportation of drugs and illicit goods through the Northern Cape, warning that intensified policing operations will continue across major routes and identified hot spots as the festive period progresses.

Police say the ongoing operations are aimed not only at disrupting criminal networks but also at ensuring safer travel conditions for residents and holidaymakers passing through the province.