Western Cape’s Mobility MEC lauded provincial traffic officials after they arrested six suspects for dealing or possessing drugs

Western Cape’s Mobility MEC, Ricardo Mackenzie, lauded provincial traffic officials after they arrested six suspects for dealing or possessing drugs, earlier this week.

On Monday, Traffic Law Enforcement officers from Beaufort West and Caledon Provincial Traffic Centres apprehended three different vehicles carrying drugs on the province’s roads.

In a separate incident, on the N1 outside Beaufort West, a Provincial Inspector stopped a vehicle for inspection and detected a strong smell of cannabis while interacting with the driver.

‘’Upon further inspection, the vehicle was loaded with boxes labelled as ‘medicinal cannabis’ carrying 200 kg of dagga. The driver could not produce appropriate documentation for transporting the consignment and was subsequently arrested for dealing in dagga,’’ said Mackenzie.

Meanwhile, traffic officials in Caledon seized 2.47kg of cannabis and an uncut diamond wrapped in a piece of paper in the cup holder, after officers pulled over a vehicle that had blue lights installed illegally.

‘’Due to the suspicious behaviour of the occupants, the officers decided to search the vehicle… They arrested three suspects and handed them over to Villiersdorp SAPS,’’ said Mackenzie.

Provincial traffic officials also confiscated 50 Mandrax tablets from a passenger travelling on the R316 between Caledon and Arniston. Mackenzie said officials arrested the passenger and the driver for being in possession of the drugs.

He added that all six suspects were handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS).

PICTURE: Pixabay

‘’I am incredibly proud of our Provincial Traffic Inspectors, who consistently deliver results that make our roads and communities safer in this province. These results are enabled by innovative technology, collaborative enforcement, hard work, and a commitment to the people of the Western Cape,’’ said Ricardo Mackenzie, Western Cape Mobility MEC.

‘’I commend these officers and all the women and men working hard 24/7 throughout the year to make the Western Cape safe and protect road users. They also continue to support the Infrastructure teams who are building back and reopening roads damaged during the recent floods,’’ he added.

 

Done By: Mitchum George