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File Image: An image of hydroponic dagga posted on social media by the SAPS.
Police and soldiers have confiscated mandrax, dagga and an undisclosed amount of cash on the first day of the crime-fighting operation in the Eastern Cape.
The police, with the help of the soldiers, raided a number of houses suspected of criminal activities in Gqeberha.
The deployment of the SANDF is part of Operation Prosper, which aims to disrupt organised crime, including drug trafficking, illegal firearms and extortion syndicates.
Close to 300 soldiers have been deployed to the province.
One of the local residents, Mavis Dirkse, has welcomed the deployment of soldiers.
“We feel really a great sense of peace and freedom that we see the children running around. We heard the army is going to come in, and today it finally happened, and I think already we feel that kind of freedom, and that is good, especially over the Easter weekend and when the crime rises from time to time. We are happy to have the army here, and tonight we are going to be all outside, braaiing, because other times we couldn’t do that.”
