Western Cape police seize R30million (allegedly) worth of drugs in 3 months

Western Cape police have seized over R30 million in illicit drugs in the last three months, provincial police commissioner Arno Lamoer said last Thursday. (For anyone who follows this blog will be aware of the consistent funny accounting of the SAPS)

“We urge communities that the demand for drugs must go down. As long as there is a demand for drugs, there will be a supply,” he told reporters in Cape Town. (There will always be a demand for drugs. The supply of drugs will also always be there. Believing the police have the ability or the capability to prohibit the subtances out of existence is wishful thinking)

He could not estimate the number of drugs in circulation, as they entered and exited the province too quickly. It was also too easy to manufacture drugs.  “Tik”  (methamphetamine) could be made in a kitchen. (The commissioner has no clue. You'd imagine he'd have a clue by now, but no such luck. No wonder heroin and tik have spread so widely so quickly.) Lamoer said there was a clear link between taking drugs and other crimes. (Such as? The link between drugs and crime is a tautology - drugs are illegal... people who do drugs are criminals? )

Since April this year, the State had secured 5 400 convictions for drug-related crimes, including murder and attempted murder. (from IOL)

What the commissioner isn't saying is that alcohol causes the most violence before the courts and alcohol is legal. 65% of people killed in homocides in 2008 had alcohol in them. Does Ellen Pakkies count as a drug related crime? Or when the police shoot and kill someone in the attempt to arrest them? The best the commissioner can do is "urge" communities? Nothing more? Just that? We urge communities that the demand for drugs must go down. This man does not understand drugs. He has no experience with them, other than arresting people for them. Clearly he is a confused individual and we're all living the consequences.