Another West Rand operation yields more than 150 arrests

Police officers from the 13 stations in the West Rand District were at it again, clamping down on criminals during another Operation Okae Molao, this time in Bekkersdal and Westonaria.

Also read: West Rand cops make 144 weekend arrests

The operation from 06:30 to 15:00 on September 22 was conducted in partnership with the Department of Community Safety, Department of Home Affairs and Rand West Public Safety among other stakeholders and resulted in 151 people being arrested for various crimes.

The focus was on crime prevention, roadblocks, and stops-and-searches to check for suspected stolen property and illegal firearms, ammunition, drugs, stolen and hijacked vehicles. They also policed compliance by liquor outlets and second-hand goods dealerships.

The arrests made were for the following crimes:

One for murder, one for rape, three for armed robbery, two for common robbery, two for business robbery, 11 for assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, five for common assault, one for theft from motor vehicles, four for theft, five for housebreaking and theft, two for possession of housebreaking implements, four for malicious damage to property, one for possession of unlicensed firearm, one for possession of ammunition, two for contravention of protection order, 17 for driving under the influence of liquor, one for dealing in dagga, one for tampering with infrastructure, nine for possession of drugs, 10 for possession of dagga, three for possession of a dangerous weapon, eight for possession of suspected stolen property, one for assault on a police official, seven for illegal mining and possession of gold-bearing material, and 47 illegal immigrants.

Traffic fines to the value of R41 000 were issued, and other suspects were arrested for minor offences such as dealing in liquor without a licence, and contravening the Second-Hand Goods Act 6 of 2009.

Those arrested will appear before the Westonaria Magistrate’s Court soon.