Police in Limpopo have arrested 340 people during a cleanup operation held across the province over the weekend and managed to apprehend nine suspects believed to have been terrorising communities in Thohoyandou and Mokopane in two separate incidents.
Among the suspects are two trail awaiting prisoners who escaped from the Modimolle Police holding cells in March. Provincial Police Spokesperson Moatshe Ngoepe said the operation yielded good results and the men and women and blue mostly focussed on areas such as Musina, Makhado, Modimolle, Dennilton and Westenburg. “Two hundred and twelve of the 340 suspects are undocumented foreigners between the ages of 23 and 42. All suspects were arrested on charges ranging from armed robbery, house robbery, possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition, drugs and for entering the country illegally,” Ngoepe said.
Police also confiscated a number of items such as four firearms, ammunition and magazines, 260 rolls and 11 sachets of dagga estimated at R15 000, drugs estimated at R10 000, several boxes of illegal cigarettes and a suspected stolen motor vehicle.
Meanwhile members of the Tactical Response Team (TRT) and Crime Intelligence Unit followed up on information about a suspicious vehicle in the area last Thursday.
“Members quickly responded, spotted the vehicle, gave chase and stopped the vehicle. Three suspects escaped but the driver was arrested. He was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. It was also determined the vehicle was recently stolen in Akasia, Pretoria,” Ngoepe said.
The investigating team also conducted a search of the driver’s house in Tswinga where they found three more illegal firearms. Investigation will determine if the suspect might be linked to various other robberies in and around Thohoyandou and Giyani. Ngoepe could not inform whether the suspect has appeared in court yet.
In the latest successful investigation Police cracked an alleged syndicate at Mahwelereng on Monday. “It is believed that the suspects have been terrorising the community in the area. Police again received information of a suspicious vehicle and traced it down at Mapela Village where six occupants were arrested and two firearms recovered. The vehicle is also believed to be stolen,” Ngoepe said.
Preliminary investigations led Police to a house at Rooivaal Village where another two suspects and a third firearm were confiscated. “It has already been confirmed that two of the suspects are escapees from Modimolle Police holding cells in March while the rest are all Zimbabwean nationals,” Ngoepe said, adding that they were already connected to a series of hijackings and armed robberies and were expected to appear in the Mahwelereng Magistrate’s Court yesterday (Wednesday). Provincial Police Commissioner Nneke Ledwaba reiterated a warning to all criminals that their days are numbered and thanked Police officers work well done.
Story: RC Myburgh
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Photos: Supplied
Featured photo: Several boxes of illegal cigarettes were confiscated during a provincial Police operation during the weekend.
