Swartland, Overstrand and Mossel Bay K-9 and Rural Safety Units successes

Swartland, Overstrand and Mossel Bay K-9 and Rural Safety Units achieving more successes

The Overstrand and Swartland Rural Safety Units (RSUs), along with their and the Mossel Bay K-9 units have once again, in their respective areas played a significant role in creating safer spaces for our residents. Between 28 August to 3 September 2023, these units with various other municipal law enforcement agencies and the South African Police Service (SAPS), arrested thirty-two (32) individuals for a variety of crimes. Of these, twenty-two (22) were apprehended in the Overstrand municipal area, one (1) in the Mossel Bay region and nine (9) in the Swartland.

Along with last week’s arrests, this takes the number of those apprehended by these units to 64.

The Mossel Bay K-9 unit, which continues to make significant strides, took their sharp sense of smell to the Wolwedans Informal Settlement in Grootbrak Rivier. This led to the arrest of a suspect for drug dealing and the possession of stolen items. The unit confiscated: 

- x134 mandrax tablets,

- x4 halve mandrax tablets,

- x3 quarter mandrax tablets,

- stolen property consisting of three (3) cellphones and two (2) laptops,

- 73kg of copper wire and

- R 17 819.00 in cash. 

Amongst others, the Swartland arrests, which occurred in Riebeek-Kasteel, Riebeek West, Chatsworth, Malmesbury, Darling and Yzerfontein included: 

- x3 dealing in liquor,

- x2 dealing in drugs,

- x2 possession of drugs,

- x1 possession of abalone and West Coast Rock Lobster (WCRL) and 

- x1 possession of a dangerous weapon. 

The units also confiscated:

- x9 mandrax tablets,

- x78 bankies of dagga, 

- x19 small zipper bags containing tik,

- 10.8 kg shucked abalone,

- 6.7kg whole abalone and

- large quantities of liquor.

The Overstand arrests included:

- x2 dealing in drugs,

- x5 for possession and transporting of undersized Steenbras fish, 

- x1 for the possession of abalone and

- x10 wanted suspects.

This unit, which also discovered a cannabis laboratory with various paraphernalia, confiscated:

- x163 cannabis plants,

- R 4 119 in cash,

- x968 units of abalone with an estimated street value of R 124 000.00 and

- diving equipment consisting of flippers and suits. 

Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen said: “Our K-9 and Rural Safety units continue to show why they are so important in combatting crime throughout the Western Cape. The Mossel Bay discovery is particularly noteworthy, especially since this unit is still in the process of sharpening its teeth. The more we collaborate, the greater our joint successes will be. As the Western Cape government, we remain committed to working with all relevant and law enforcement entities so that safer communities can be created throughout the province.”