Police find dagga plant lab in Ottery

Drugs confiscated in operations last week.

Grassy Park police made 92 arrests in one week including two arrests at a hydroponic dagga laboratory in Ottery.

In an intelligence-driven operation by provincial detectives and the Cape Town Flying squad on Tuesday October 13, at about 10.45am, officers discovered the laboratory at a business park in Ferndale Road.

The dagga plants, as well as drying and other equipment found in the operation were valued at R82 000. Two men, age 33 and 36, were arrested on charges of drug trafficking.

In another incident, on Thursday October 15, at about 12.30am, officers from the Crime Prevention Unit got a tip-off about guns and dagga at a Philippi farm.

When officers searched the premises they found a shotgun, a pistol and live ammunition, 15 large glass jars containing higher grade dagga, a crate of dagga, scales, 120 dagga plants and an undisclosed amount of money.

The 28-year-old suspect was arrested and will appear in court on charges of possession of illegal firearms, possession of ammunition and dealing and possession of dagga.

Between Monday October 12 and Sunday October 18 police clamped down on other criminals in the precinct with high density patrols and stop-and-search operations.

Twenty-three people were arrested on drug charges including possession of drugs such as tik, heroin, mandrax and dagga and illegal dealing in drugs.

Suspects with warrants of arrest for various crimes were also arrested during tracing operations. These included charges relating to assault, sexual assault, intimidation, negligent driving, shoplifting, malicious damage to property, domestic violence, housebreaking, house robbery and theft.

On Wednesday October 14, a 52-year-old woman was arrested by the Hawks Narcotic Unit, after a tip-off about drug peddling at a home in Seventh Avenue, Grassy Park.

After a search was conducted tik to the street value of R300 000 was found.

The woman appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court for possession of drugs.

Grassy Park station commander Colonel Dawood Laing said police would continue clamping down on crime and the perpetrators and encouraged residents to help police with tip-offs.

“Police will maintain their zero tolerance approach in the combating and investigation of crime. Strengthening the partnership between the community and the police is high on the agenda as it is contributing to reducing of crime and the apprehension of perpetrators thereof,” he said.

He also thanked officers and the respective communities in the precinct.

Colonel Laing again appealed to residents to get involved in the reward system.

“This system allows any adult member of the community to become pro-actively involved in the prevention of crime. Crime and criminals can be reported and a reward could be received by the reporter,” he said.

Melvin Jonkers, chairperson for the Grassy Park Community Policing Forum (CPF), commended the station commander and his team for their work.

“The staff at the station are putting forth a lot of effort to arrests the perpetrators. The station commander is continuously working on new ideas and initiatives to get crime under control and to stabilise the area,” he said.

Mr Jonkers said the CPF is working closely with the management of Grassy Park police to curb crime.

“There have been many successes and we make an appeal to residents to come forward with information that could lead to arrests of criminals.”

Anyone with information on crime can call the police at Crime Stop at 08600 10111. All information will be treated as highly confidential.