Law enforcement agencies seized illicit cigarettes, drugs, cash and undersized fish during a four‑day Operation Phakisa along the Northern Cape coast, police said on Saturday. The multi‑agency operation, run by the SAPS with partner departments, targeted coastal towns including Kleinzee, Port Nolloth, Alexander Bay, Hondeklip Bay and Koingnaas between Tuesday and Saturday.
Coordinated inspections and roadblocks
SAPS reported that teams conducted searches and inspections at harbours, launching sites, mining areas, camping sites, fish shops and restaurants, and carried out vehicle checkpoints to raise police visibility and check compliance with relevant legislation. According to police, 100 vehicles and 166 people were searched, and multiple vessels underwent inspections.
- Three arrests were made in relation to drug offences and immigration contraventions.
- Illicit cigarettes with an estimated value of R390,000 were seized.
- Drugs with an estimated street value of R98,500 were recovered.
- Fish valued at roughly R1,500 was confiscated for contraventions of the Marine Living Resources Act.
- Fines totalling R9,100 were issued under the National Road Traffic Act and the Marine Living Resources Act.
Police said two people were arrested for contravening the Immigration Act and a further suspect was detained for contravening the Refugees Act. In addition, fines amounting to R4,400 were issued for road traffic contraventions, while R4,700 in fines were levied for breaches of the Marine Living Resources Act (Act 18 of 1998).
Agencies involved and suspected proceeds of crime
The operation brought together SAPS specialised units and several government departments, including the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment; the Department of Home Affairs; the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform; and Customs, police said. A substantial amount of cash, described by police as suspected proceeds of crime, was also confiscated during the operation.
| Item | Approximate value / number |
|---|---|
| Illicit cigarettes | R390,000 |
| Drugs (street value) | R98,500 |
| Seized fish | R1,500 |
| Vehicles searched | 100 |
| Individuals searched | 166 |
Northern Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola commended SAPS members and participating departments for their contribution to the operation, police said. The operation is part of periodic enforcement drives under the Operation Phakisa policing initiative, which aims to address crime linked to coastal and marine activities.
Context and potential consequences
The seizures underscore recurring enforcement challenges along South Africa’s sparsely populated coastline, where illicit trade in cigarettes, illegal fishing and smuggling can flourish. Illicit tobacco undermines legitimate businesses and reduces the fiscus’ tax receipts, while illegal harvesting of marine resources threatens local fisheries and conservation efforts.
Police did not provide details about the quantity of cigarettes seized or the precise nature of the drugs recovered beyond the estimated street value. Court processes and further administrative or criminal action against those arrested will follow, SAPS said.
The involvement of multiple national departments signals a coordinated approach to maritime compliance and border management. Continued operations of this type may lead to further arrests, seizure of contraband and potential prosecution under statutes including the Marine Living Resources Act and immigration and refugees legislation.
Police encouraged members of the public who have information about coastal criminality to report it to their nearest police station.
