Police stations in the Winelands cluster arrested 168 suspects on different charges over the weekend.
The arrests came after a crime prevention and maximum deployment operation.
Capt Basil Seekoei, spokesperson for the Winelands police cluster, says a large quantity of alcohol was confiscated in Paarl East, Groot Drakenstein, Stellenbosch and Cloetesville. The alcohol was sold illegally in the different communities.
On Saturday the officers from Cloetesville shut down two drug dens after they had obtained and carried out search warrants in Charlie and Pine Street. Seekoei says the Vispol members seized drugs to an estimated street value of R8 000.
An undisclosed amount of money was also found at both houses in the two streets, where two arrests were made.
“Earlier in the day (19 February) members from [the] Crime Intelligence Unit seized presumably stolen bicycles to the value of R90 000 at the same house in Pine Street, Cloestesville,” Seekoei added.
Brig Sandile Sonjani, the senior standby officer for the Winelands cluster, commended the officers of this cluster for their good work over the weekend.
“I want to convey my gratitude to all the officers who positively contributed over the weekend and want to encourage communities to work with the police in their respective areas to report criminals in their midst.”
Seekoei said that the suspects will appear on different charges in the magistrates’ courts of Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl and Wellington.
