GQEBERHA – Law enforcement authorities in Gqeberha have dealt a major blow to illicit narcotics trade, confiscating approximately R1.5 million worth of suspected drugs during Operation Ukubuz in the city’s Central area. The targeted crackdown, executed on Thursday, 27 August 2026, resulted in multiple arrests and the seizure of a wide array of controlled substances and paraphernalia.
The operation was initiated after South African Police Service (SAPS) officials received credible intelligence regarding suspected drug dealing activities along Parliament Street in the Central district. Acting swiftly on this information at approximately 11:00, officers apprehended two men found in possession of suspected narcotics. A third individual was also detained after being discovered with a substantial sum of cash that he could not satisfactorily account for, prompting a formal enquiry into the origin of the funds.
During the ongoing operation, a SAPS K9 unit officer observed a white Mercedes-Benz B200 Turbo parked on the street with suspected drugs visible inside the cabin. A subsequent search of the vehicle and its immediate vicinity yielded a plastic bag containing suspected narcotics located near the rear tyre.
Authorities successfully traced the registered owner of the Mercedes-Benz, who confirmed the vehicle was being rented out and granted explicit permission for a comprehensive search. During this search, officers discovered a suspect hiding inside the boot of the car. A key to a residential flat was found in the suspect’s possession, which directed law enforcement to a nearby residence.
A search of the residence uncovered a substantial quantity of suspected illicit substances, specifically dagga, tik, khat, cocaine, and mandrax tablets. Alongside the narcotics, officers confiscated numerous smoking pipes, insulin syringes, a portable measuring scale, and an undisclosed amount of cash. Additional suspected drugs and insulin needles were also seized from the Mercedes-Benz, bringing the total estimated street value of the confiscated narcotics to approximately R1.5 million.
Two foreign nationals, identified as 36-year-old Kelvin Ike and 52-year-old Okeke Joseph Sunday, were formally arrested on charges of drug possession. They appeared before the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court, where their case was remanded to Monday, 31 August 2026. A separate 42-year-old suspect, detained on charges of dealing in drugs, is also scheduled to appear in the same court on the same date.
SAPS officials have commended the coordinated effort of the involved members, emphasizing that Operation Ukubuz remains actively committed to dismantling drug distribution networks and ensuring community safety in the region.