Cape Town: Metro Police officers caught a man who tried to reclaim confiscated dagga, on a dashcam lunging at an officer and running off empty-handed. He was apprehended after a short chase in the Cape Town CBD. Exactly after a week when another man was arrested buying drugs on the same street.
Reportedly, the Metro Police Officer observed a suspicious vehicle driving without lights in the early hours of Saturday morning on July 12, when they were on route to report for duty.
The Female Metro Police Officer then contacted a colleague for assistance, and located the vehicle parked in Darling Street. Then a man dressed in black approached the vehicle, inserted his hand into the driver’s side window, and placed something in his pocket. As the officers approached, he fled, and the vehicle drove off without lights.
Officers then pursued the vehicle and managed to stop it in Strand Street. After the successful search of the vehicle, a bag of dagga weighing 97.97 grams was found on the driver along with an undisclosed amount of money.
Later the passengers became unco-operative and riotous during the search and attempted to grab the seized bag of dagga from one of the officers who sustained an injury to her left hand. The suspect then fled down Strand Street but was apprehended by the officers with the assistance of CCID security officers.
The 23-year-old suspect was arrested for assaulting a police officer and defeating the Ends of Justice, and the 34-year-old motorist was arrested for dealing in drugs. Following this case, exactly a week later on Saturday, July 19, a CCTV operator monitored a camera at Strand Street and noticed a man buying suspected drugs.
Metro Police officers then searched the 37-year-old suspect and found one packet of tik in his possession. He was then arrested and taken to Cape Town Central Police Station.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Safety and Security – Alderman JP Smith said that the City Enforcement arrets hundreds of people on a monthly basis for possession of narcotics to clamp down on the proliferation of drugs in the communities.
As per reports, the officers are ready to do more and with increased policing powers that can focus on making bigger and more impactful arrests by targeting the syndicates supplying the street dealers.
Smith said that with more policing powers they would be able to use the data available to them to conduct meaningful investigations and entrapment operations. The number of victims has been impacted by one drug user.
The dealer has grown exponentially when they consider the loved ones and neighbors who have to deal with the fall out of the abuse, and they owe it to the residents to continue to fight for more policing powers.
In general enforcement efforts over the past week, the enforcement agencies of the City of Cape Town have made 266 arrests. Law Enforcement Officers made 141 arrests and issued 7030 notices for various offences.
Traffic officers recorded 20,543 offences of speeding that impounded 453 public transport vehicles and executed 1810 warrants of arrest. Further, they arrested 30 suspects, out of which 37 are for driving under the influence of alcohol, one for reckless and negligent driving, and four for various other charges.
Smith further stated that once again, drunk driving arrests are concerning. They are still experiencing bouts of inclement weather, which increases the risk of accidents. It is reckless and inconsiderate of everyone else on the road when you get behind the wheel intoxicated.
The Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 69 trauma incidents and 48 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents.