Authorities raid Whoonga Park
Law enforcement divisions cordoned off Whoonga Park last night and arrested 11 vagrants in a special operation.
MORE than 90 people were rounded up in a multi-disciplinary law enforcement operation at Whoonga Park last night.
The operation was conducted jointly by divisions of the SAPS, Metro Police, Forensics division, Department of Home Affairs and Durban Solid Waste and iTrump units.
The aim was to cordon off the area and process vagrants living in the park, as well as to search for possession of drugs, illegal weapons and apprehend those wanted for criminal activity.
More than 90 people were taken to the nearby Metro Police satellite station where their details, photos and fingerprints were captured for record purposes.
The majority of them were later released. Among these were eight foreign nationals, four of whom are undocumented and were subsequently arrested. One arrest was made for possession of a dangerous weapon and two for drug possession. Four people were also detained as they were wanted for other crimes.
At the park DSW conducted a clean-up after police had thoroughly searched the area for any illegal items.
The operation is part of an ongoing campaign to deal with the issue of vagrancy, loitering, crime and grime in the City.
The Municipality is working together with other government agencies and NGOs to assist vagrants, who are mainly local youth, to deal with their drug addiction and integrate them back into society.
Interventions include the establishment of reception centres which will provide intermediary services prior to them being sent to rehabilitation centres.
The operations will be ongoing and police visibility has been increased in the Berea/Glenwood area.
