Police operations clamp down on crime in eThekwini

THE South African Police Service (SAPS) has been conducting high-density operations throughout the eThekwini District, and they have arrested several suspects for drug dealing, illegal gun possession and illegal business operations, among other crimes.

On Wednesday (June 26), members of the eThekwini District, National Intervention Unit, K9 Unit and metropolitan police conducted operations within the Point, Durban Central, Umlazi, Sydenham and Mariannhill policing areas.

According to the SAPS’s Captain Carmen Rhynes, police are working tirelessly to reduce the generators of contact crimes by confiscating illegal firearms and drugs and closing illegal taverns.

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While patrolling the CBD, police officers stopped a foreign national and requested documentation to verify his status. The man did not have any documents on him and requested the police accompany him to a bottle store in the Point area.

“Upon entering the manager’s office at the bottle store, another foreign national male was found counting money valued at approximately R110 000. Police officers also found 379 pink and white capsules, believed to be Ecstacy, with a street value of R22 740. Also found in his office were 32 cellphones, three laptops, three tablets and three passports. The 36-year-old was immediately arrested and detained at Point SAPS for possession of drugs and the possession of stolen property,” said Rhynes.

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Other successes during the operation were the seizure of four gas guns, the detention of six undocumented foreign nationals and the confiscation of 98 cartons of illicit cigarettes, as well as 56 by-law and traffic fines issued. “An arrest was made for the contravention of the Second Goods Act, and two illegal taverns were shut down. A 9mm firearm with six 9mm rounds of ammunition was also found abandoned,” said Rhynes.

The eThekwini District Commissioner, Major General Makhosazana Victoria Kheswa, who led the operation, said, “We will continue with such operations, with the additional backing and support of the National Intervention Team, to ensure we rid ourselves of all criminal elements within the eThekwini District. We will not allow criminals to conduct business as usual, hiding behind what appears to be legitimate businesses and committing such crimes in our communities. Compliance operations on liquor outlets, on undocumented foreign nationals, and on second-hand goods outlets as well as tuck shops, will be the order of the day. We are committed to decreasing crime in the eThekwini District.”

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