Correctional Services officers and the police arrested two suspects and confiscated a number of cellphones, a large amount of Mandrax tablets and more than 4 kg of marijuana that was reportedly destined to be dropped off at Helderstroom Correctional Facility near Villiersdorp.
Candice van Reenen, a spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services, confirmed that night-duty officers executing patrols helped apprehend the suspects on Friday 28 July.
She stated: “The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) can confirm that it effectively seized contraband and prevented it from entering its correctional centres in Helderstroom over the weekend.
“On Friday 28 June, during routine patrol of the Helderstroom Prison terrain, night duty officials noticed a suspicious vehicle on the gravel road next to the agricultural section. Officials approached the vehicle and questioned the two occupants.”
Questioning of the suspects led to the discovery of contraband including cellphones, nearly 100 Mandrax tablets and over 4 kg of dagga.
Van Reenen reported that officials from Caledon police were called to the scene where they confiscated the contraband and arrested the suspects.
Brigadier Donovan Heilbron, Deputy District Commissioner of the Police in the Overberg, confirmed that two males in their 20s appeared in Caledon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (2 July) on charges of the possession of dagga.
“Their case was remanded to 9 July for bail application and they will remain in custody,” he added.
Patrolling and regular searches, said Van Reenen, form part of the department’s daily security programme “to ensure correctional facilities become centres for rehabilitation and not breeding grounds for drug distribution and crime.
“DCS wishes to thank its officials for their vigilance and swift response in foiling the infiltration of contraband to the centres. DCS also further strongly warns any person who intends to smuggle any illegal items to any inmate or the correctional facility that they will be harshly dealt with in terms of the law.”
