LIMPOPO – 230 Suspects have been arrested for various offenses during a provincial intelligence led operation which was up and running until this morning, said the police on Monday.
The offenses range from theft, burglary business and residential, cash-in-transit robbery, possession of suspected stolen motor vehicles and illegal firearm to illegal poaching.
The operation carried out by various police units included the following successes:
• In Rooiberg outside Bela-Bela, two suspects (aged 23 and 32) were arrested for possession of hippopotamus skin.
• In Musina and Makhado Policing areas, four suspects (aged between 23 and 31) were arrested for possession of stolen motor vehicle which was reported stolen in Boksburg of the Gauteng Province and possession of firearms without license. During these arrests a 303 rifle with silencer, 3x 303 live rounds, and axe and a knife were confiscated.
• In Giyani, three suspects (aged between 20 and 31) were arrested in connection with 22 house and armed robbery incidents which were committed in the Giyani ,Malamulele and Mokwakwaila Policing areas respectively between 2017 and 2018. These suspects have also been linked to more other crimes which were committed in the Gauteng and Mpumalanga Provinces.
• In Mankweng outside Polokwane, three suspects (aged between 24 and 36) were arrested for burglary and possession of illegal firearms, ammunition and suspected stolen properties. Crimes which has been committed in the Mankweng, Polokwane and Westernburg Policing areas.
During these arrests, a hunting rifle and a 9mm pistol (both with with serial number filed off), 120 live rounds of 9mm ammunition, 33 live rounds of 303 ammunition, 50 live rounds of 9mm ammunition, a 9mm magazine, four gold wrist watches, two pairs of tekkies and a Toyota Corolla were confiscated. These items were allegedly stolen during burglary incident which occurred at a lodge in Polokwane.
• In Lebowakgomo, three highly wanted cash in-transit suspects (aged between 24 and 35) were arrested for possession of stolen motor vehicle which was reportedly stolen in Rietgat during a cash in transit incident. During their arrests a motor vehicle and a firearm were recovered. These suspects have also been connected to a series of crimes which were committed in the Maake, Motetema areas as well as in Kwa-Mhlanga in the Mpumalanga Province.
During the same operation, 215 suspects (aged between 21 and 46) were arrested for a range of offenses in the Maake, Lebowakgomo, Ritavi, Lephalale, Hlogotlou, Mahwelereng, Vuwani, Thohoyandou, Gilead, Musina and Makhado Policing areas. These crimes range from from burglary, theft, Illegal Immigration, armed robbery to possession of drugs and firearms without licence. Drugs, cellphones and household items were recovered during theses arrests.
The arrested suspects will soon appear before the relevant magistrate courts in Limpopo, Gauteng and Mpumalanga.
Police investigations still continue.
