EASTERN CAPE — An intelligence-driven police operation has successfully dismantled drug supply networks in Makhanda and Joza, resulting in the arrest of two men and the seizure of illicit substances valued at nearly R50,000. The coordinated raids, executed on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, targeted specific properties following actionable intelligence gathered by the Makhanda Crime Intelligence Unit.
Members of the Makhanda Highway Patrol Unit, alongside the Makhanda and Joza Crime Prevention Units, joined forces to execute the targeted strikes. At a residence on Hallier Street in Makhanda, law enforcement officers seized 195 grams of Khat and 16 grams of Tik. A 44-year-old man was subsequently arrested on charges of dealing in drugs.
The operational team then advanced to Vellem Street in Joza to search a second identified property. During this raid, police confiscated 19 packets containing Tik and Mandrax tablets. A 50-year-old man was apprehended at the scene on similar charges of drug dealing.
Sarah Baartman District Commissioner, Major General Thandiswa Kupiso, commended the participating units for their successful collaboration and operational effectiveness. Major General Kupiso stated that the operation demonstrates how specialized units can pool intelligence and operational strength to dismantle illicit networks and restrict the operational space of drug dealers. She emphasized that this intelligence-led momentum will be maintained to reclaim neighborhoods and ensure drug trafficking perpetrators face the full might of the law.
Both suspects are scheduled to appear before the Makhanda Magistrates’ Court in the near future to face formal charges.
