South Africa – The Mossel Bay, Overstrand and Swartland K-9 Units, in partnership with the areas Rural Safety Units (RSUs), continue to make inroads in the fight against crime, particularly in their communities .
Between 4 and 17 December 2023, the units with various municipal law enforcement agencies and the South African Police Service, arrested 57 people for various crimes .
Of the 57 arrested, 32 were apprehended in the Overstrand municipal area, three in Mossel Bay and 22 were arrested in the Swartland .
This is according to the Western Cape Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety .
“In total, 18kg of dagga was confiscated in the last two weeks, along with more than 726 mandrax tablets .
Other contraband, including West Coast Rock Lobster, their tails and abalone were also confiscated,” the department said .
It said the Mossel Bay K-9 unit had various operations, which included searches at two different addresses in Herbetsdale, where a combined total of 1kg of dagga, including more than 155 mandrax tablets and 21 plastic bankies, suspected to be tik, were discovered and confiscated .
One person was also found with half mandrax tablets at a taxi rank in the Mossel Bay’s central business district .
The department said the Swartland units had operations in Malmesbury, Moorreesburg, Riebeek-Valley, Vredendal, Vredeburg, Saldanha Bay, Yezerfontein and Piketberg with suspects arrested for among other things, dealing in liquor, possession of drugs, dealing in drugs and possession of stolen property .
The units also confiscated 505 mandrax tablets, 4kg parcels of dagga and 3 small zipper bags of tik .
“Amongst others, the Overstand arrests included 9 for possessions of drugs; 2 for dealing in drugs, 5 for illegal possession of marine life and 9 wanted suspects .
This unit confiscated 13kg’s of dagga, 6 mandrax tablets, 32 West Coast Rock Lobster, 35 West Coast Rock Lobster tails and 35 whole abandoned abalone,” the department said .
Western Cape MEC of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen, commended the K-9 and Rural Safety Units for their continued effort .
Allen said the provincial government has made a commitment that the province’s K-9 and Rural Safety Units will be more visible throughout the festive season .
“These results are testament to their activity and effective execution .
These units are demonstrating what the Western Cape Safety Plan seeks to achieve, particularly since we want our residents to live in improved and safer environments,” Allen said .
K-9 unit is a specialised group of law enforcement officers who use service dogs to perform the responsibilities of a general police officer .
In addition to their usual duties, each K-9 officer is also a dog handler, meaning that they have to train and care for their canine partner .
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