PICS | R420 million wiped out — SAPS takes crackdown to new heights

Drugs

Johannesburg – The South African Police Service (SAPS) has destroyed drugs and unregistered medicines valued at more than R420 million, marking one of the largest seizures and destruction operations in recent years.

The operation, led by National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, took place at an undisclosed location earlier today.

Photos released by SAPS show the scale of the destruction, which included illegal narcotics and unregistered pharmaceuticals.

“Through roadblocks, tracing operations, stop-and-search activities, and visible policing, we are sending a simple message: criminals have nowhere to hide,” the SAPS said on its official Twitter account.

This latest destruction adds to previous efforts, including a March operation where drugs with a street value of R340 million were destroyed. In total, SAPS has now destroyed illegal substances worth nearly R5.3 billion this year.

The campaign forms part of Operation Shanela II, SAPS’s intensified drive against serious and violent crimes, including gender-based violence and femicide, aggravated robberies, and murders.

Masemola emphasised the importance of coordinated efforts, citing intelligence operatives, detectives, visible policing members, and forensic experts as key contributors to the operation.

SAPS said the ongoing destruction of illegal substances is aimed at reducing the availability of drugs on the streets and dismantling networks of organised crime.

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