Money launder and copper thieves among suspects arrested during provincial police operations
The ongoing police operation within the province have once again yielded positive results with the latest arrest of fourteen suspects for serious and violent crimes in the Lephalale, Driekop and Hoedspruit Policing areas respectively.
LIMPOPO – In the Tom Burke Policing area outside Lephalale, a 52-year-old man was arrested after he was found in possession of a large amount of money at the Stockport Port on Entry.
“Money amounting to R600 000 was found hidden inside the suspect’s vehicle and he was arrested on the spot on a charge of money laundering,” said Police spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe.
Meanwhile in the Driekop Policing area outside Burgersfort seven suspects were arrested in separate operations for possession of suspected stolen property and copper cables estimated to the value of over R100 000 seized.
Two suspected (aged 24 and 26) were arrested after their vehicle was stopped and searched at Mooihoek village. During the vehicle search rolled cobber cables with an estimated value of about R100 00o seized. The suspect’s vehicle was also seized. A further five suspects (aged between 26 and 41) were arrested during a joint operation composed of the Police and the private security officers from Modikwa mine at Ga-Mamphahlane village.
The suspects were found to be in possession of copper cables stolen from the mine. The value of the recovered copper cables is estimated at R70 000, said Ngoepe.
In the Hoedspruit Policing area outside Phalaborwa, six suspects (aged between 28 and 53) were arrested for illegal possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition. This arrest was done after the police followed up a tip-off from community members about the said suspects planning to poach in the area.
“The suspects were intercepted and arrested during the stop and search operation after the vehicles belong to the suspects, being a Mercedes Benz and Toyota Hilux, were pulled stopped along the R527 road next to Hoedspruit Snake park. During the search one rifle with 29 rounds of ammunition and one silencer were recovered.”
The suspects have since been found to be residents of Badplaas and Kanyamazane areas in the Mpumalanga Province and will together with the rest of the arrested suspects appear before the different Magistrates Courts shortly.
The Police investigations in all these cases are still continuing, Ngoepe concluded.
The Provincial Police Commissioner Lt Genl Nneke Jim Ledwaba has commended the officers and other role players who participated during these operations on a job well done.
