Western Cape police crackdown on gangs and drugs

Festive-season policing in the Western Cape delivered significant seizures of illegal firearms, drugs and counterfeit goods, but Police Oversight and Community safety MEC Anroux Marais said the gains will mean little without stronger, sustained action.

In December 2025, one of the largest drug busts was made, an estimated street value of R3.6 million were seized in George.

From early December last year, intelligence-driven operations targeting known gangs and criminal networks led to the seizure of more than 80 illegal firearms and ammunition of various calibres. Officers attached to the Western Cape Government’s Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) confiscated at least 15 additional firearms during the same period, with numerous arrests for illegal possession.

“Each illegal firearm taken out of circulation represents at least one potential life saved,” Marais said, commending officers for confronting armed criminals “often at great personal risk”.

However, she warned that policing efforts must be intensified this year, saying the provincial government would continue applying pressure on the South African Police Service to fill vacancies, resource priority precincts and drive targeted operations that lead to more arrests, convictions and longer sentences.

Festive operations also targeted the criminal economy. On December 2, SAPS confiscated illicit goods valued at R90 000 in the Boland District. A further operation in Bellville on December 16 resulted in the seizure of counterfeit goods estimated at R115 million.

Focused drug enforcement delivered additional results. In December 2025, drugs with an estimated street value of R3.6 million were seized in George, followed by the confiscation of drugs worth R740 000 in Maitland on January 3 this year.

Marais also welcomed the successful conviction of two drug dealers found in possession of methamphetamine valued at about R260 000. The offenders were sentenced to 15 and 20 years’ imprisonment respectively.

She emphasised that community cooperation remained central to crime-fighting successes, noting that information shared by residents had saved lives and made communities safer.

“The fight against crime cannot be won by law enforcement alone,” Marais said, urging residents to continue reporting criminal activity through established law enforcement channels.

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Cape Argus