The Western Cape’s Provincial Traffic Law Enforcement have confiscated illegal drugs and marine life worth an estimated street value of R34 260 248 between April 2020 and March 2021. According to authorities, this is a reflection of the hard work that officials carry out on a daily basis to maintain the rule of law, even at times where their own lives are threatened.
The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) spokesperson on Community Safety in the Western Cape, Reagen Allen indicated that the substantial achievement in confiscating illegal items demonstrates operational agility even during the challenges presented by the first half of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Allen said despite a portion of the Department’s resources being redirected to assist with the enforcement of the National State of Disaster COVID-19 regulations, the province’s traffic officers were able to collect the following:
- R16 953 233 of abalone
- R1 563 650 of illicit cigarettes and transporting liquor
- R8 488 390 of dagga
- R7 218 900 of mandrax
- R5 000 of cocaine and illegal goods; and
- R23 175 of Methamphetamine (tik)
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Allen went on to say that over the year under review, the Department of Transport and Public Works increased its capabilities and efficiency in delivering on its mandate.
“To obtain this, a wide range of technology improvements took place. In total, 176 patrol vehicles were upgraded with new technologies in addition to the 540 handheld devices replaced by newer models. Officers were able to detect documentation fraud more easily and arrested 141 people as a result,” Allen said.
Meanwhile, it was further reported that in the first quarter of 2021, the Gene Louw Traffic College enrolled 90 students following their recruitment and selection drive to further capacitate the traffic law enforcement in the province. This will contribute to 40 traffic wardens who were trained in Vredenburg last year for the Saldanha Municipality.
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