MAKHANDA – A 35-year-old man was arrested and charged for dealing in illicit drugs during an intelligence driven operation carried out by SAPS members from Joza and Grahamstown police stations. The operation forms part of the Provincial Commissioner’s Operation ‘Sikhona’ to ameliorate service delivery in the Eastern Cape.

On Saturday evening, 24 September 2022, police members from these two stations operationalised the intelligence information and also broadened it to ensure high police visibility in all hotspot areas in Makhanda.  Even though the focus was on drug posts, liquor outlets were also visited to ensure compliance to the liquor trade regulations.

During the operation, police in possession of a search warrant pounced and searched a house in Joza Street, Makhanda, where they arrested a man and also seized the following illicit drugs:

26 × Boss manrdrax tablets

40 grams of crystal meth (tik)

500 grams of dagga

15× bompies of dagga

170 x tik pipes

R1 140.00 cash

The 35-year-old suspect is expected to appear at the Grahamstown Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 26 September 2022 to face charges of dealing in illicit drugs.

The Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Nomthetheleli Mene welcomed the operational success and commended the police for their continued efforts in eradicating drugs.  “Drugs are destroying our youth and we urge the communities to break the silence and to report these drug dens that are operating in their neighbourhoods. Drugs are a major contributory factor in the commission of crimes. Desperate addicts will do anything in their power to get a ‘fix’ and will even resort to criminal activities such as robberies and housebreakings to feed their habit. The success of Operation Sikhona depends on both police and more importantly community involvement,” added Lt Gen Mene.

Source: South African Police Service