Drugs worth R90 million destroyed by police
SAPS destroyed and confiscated R90 million worth of drugs during operations in the Western and Eastern Cape.
South African Police Service (SAPS) held a drug destruction process in Cape Town. Drugs worth R90 million were destroyed. The National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Fannie Masemola presided over the destruction.
According to police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe in a statement, these are drugs that were confiscated during police operations in the Western and Eastern Cape at roadblocks and tracing operations. They include tik, cocaine and mandrax.
ALSO READ: Mother uses her child to smuggle drugs into prison
BILLION RANDS OF DRUGS DESTROYED
Mathe further explained that this is the fourth drug destruction process in this financial year, the most recent drug destruction took place in Gauteng in October 2023 where R800 million worth of drugs were destroyed.
“In this financial year alone, close to a billion rand worth of drugs have been destroyed. In the 2022/2023 financial year, 6 tons of drugs were seized with a value of R2 billion.”
ALSO READ: Drugs: Can you say ‘no’ to drugs?
DRUGS BEING DESTROYED SEIZED IN BUSTS
In the statement, Mathe added that some of the drugs that are being destroyed include those that were seized during the following drug busts:
• A case in Vredenburg where police operationalised information and proceeded to an address where a truck loaded with R10 million worth of mandrax tablets was seized. In this case, four suspects were arrested, and one suspect, Hosia Mbuluheni Mathono, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.
• In Beaufort West, Mandrax worth R2,5 million was seized and the accused was convicted and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment
• In another case in Beaufort West, R18 million worth of Tik was seized. The accused were sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.
• In another case in Swellendam, R4,5 million worth of Mandrax tablets were seized. The accused persons were sentenced to 5 years imprisonment.
ALSO READ: ‘Artwork’ drugs seized at OR Tambo Airport in box headed for New Zealand
POLICE COMMISSION COMMENDS POLICE
The National Commissioner of SAPS, General Fannie Masemola says police are registering great successes in intercepting drugs in the country.
“It is worth noting that in the past three months, police have seized cocaine worth R 200 million in various drug busts at our ports of entry. The first two consignments of cocaine were seized at the Durban harbour in October and the other major bust worth R65 million was detected in November at the Gqeberha seaport. This drug destruction thus demonstrates the relentless efforts of our men and women in blue to remove these drugs that destroy lives and livelihoods”, said General Masemola.
It is important to note that the SAPS embarks on this process regularly and that drugs that are being destroyed are identified through court orders, illustrating the finalisation of cases.