{"id":6560,"date":"2025-12-17T12:20:08","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T10:20:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swazidailynews.com\/?p=6560"},"modified":"2025-12-17T12:20:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T10:20:08","slug":"police-destroy-4-hectares-of-dagga-fields-as-festive-season-operations-intensify","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/6560\/eswatini-daily-news\/police-destroy-4-hectares-of-dagga-fields-as-festive-season-operations-intensify\/","title":{"rendered":"Police Destroy 4 Hectares of Dagga Fields as Festive Season Operations Intensify"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By Ncaba Ntshakala<br \/><br \/>The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) has recorded a major breakthrough in its ongoing fight against illicit drugs after officers from the Manzini Region Anti-Drug Unit destroyed four hectares of dagga fields along the Mnjoli Dam.<\/p>\n<p>Police said the operation forms part of a sustained crackdown on the cultivation and distribution of illegal drugs, which continue to fuel criminal activity across the country.<\/p>\n<p>According to REPS, statistics show that drugs such as dagga contribute significantly to the rising levels of crime, particularly violent offences.<\/p>\n<p>The police have reiterated that those involved in the cultivation and dealing of illicit drugs will be pursued relentlessly, warning that such activities will be met with firm resistance from law enforcement.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6568\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6568\" style=\"width: 1335px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-6568\" src=\"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/PAGE-2-SUB-LEAD-REVISED-Members-of-the-Police-force-during-the-operation-300x225.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1335\" height=\"1001\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6568\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Members of the Police force during the operation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Meanwhile, as the festive season approaches, REPS has assured the nation that it is fully prepared to maintain law and order and ensure the safety of emaSwati. Police officers have been deployed in all strategic areas, with nationwide operations already in full swing.<\/p>\n<p>These operations include roadblocks, intensified patrols, and public education campaigns aimed at raising awareness on crime prevention and road safety.<\/p>\n<p>In Mbabane, police intensified night patrols across the station area last night to ensure the capital remains safe for residents and visitors.<\/p>\n<p><strong><div class=\"_df_book df-lite\" id=\"6548\"  data-title=\"\" wpoptions=\"true\" thumbtype=\"\" ><\/div><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>REPS said all operations are guided by its operational mantra: \u201cUmbutfo Wembube umezica kuhliphita tigungu tebufakatsi nekuvikela tingoti temgwaco kute kundlondlobale kuphepha kwesive,\u201d reaffirming the service\u2019s commitment to protecting communities and preventing crime during the festive period and beyond.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Ncaba Ntshakala The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) has recorded a major breakthrough in its ongoing fight&hellip;","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6567,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,25],"tags":[46,49,58],"class_list":["post-6560","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-eswatini-daily-news","category-national","tag-africa","tag-human-interest","tag-national","cs-entry","cs-video-wrap"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - 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