SAPS, EMPD, armed forces cut down on crime in Benoni

Suspected criminals, illegal immigrants and taxi drivers were some of the people who felt the brunt of an operation to rid Benoni of crime and wrongdoers on Thursday.

South African National Defence Force (SANDF), SAPS and EMPD were some of the law enforcement officials who embarked on Operation Fiela in Benoni on Thursday.

Operation Fiela (fiela means “sweep” in Sotho), was undertaken in the Benoni SAPS cluster on Thursday.

Hundreds of law enforcement officials, as well as the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) formed part of the operation.

The Benoni Flying Squad, EMPD (including the K9 and Equestrian units), Gauteng Traffic Police, SAPS members from the Benoni cluster, the Tactical Response Team within the SAPS and immigration officials were part of the operation.

The operation focused on the Benoni CBD, Putfontein and Daveyton.

Here are some of the successes of the operation:

24 taxis were impounded
Three liquor outlets were closed
Nine people were arrested for possession of drugs
Six people were arrested for other crimes (two of whom were previously wanted by police)
12 people were fined for various offences
Two illegal miners were arrested
94 pieces of equipment used in illegal mining was confiscated
68 undocumented persons were arrested
One firearm and magazine containing four live rounds was found from an illegal miner who evaded arrest
A stolen vehicle was recovered in Putfontein

The Benoni SAPS acting cluster commander, Brig Poobalan Subbiah, indicated that operations of this nature will continue across all station policing areas.

“The support with regard to information from the community contributed to the major success of the operation,” said Benoni SAPS spokesperson Lieut Nomsa Sekele.

“The coordination of the operation with all role players is an indication that it is possible to make Benoni a safe and secure environment.”