LIMPOPO – Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Genl Nneke Ledwaba has once again applauded the police in the province for their hard work and determination to win the fight against crime, following the arrest of 1 546 suspects this past week.
The suspects were arrested during the simultaneous and parallel joint police operations which were conducted across the province until this morning.
The arrested suspects, according to Police Spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe were arrested for criminal activities ranging from murder, attempted murder, burglaries, theft, possession of suspected stolen properties, possession of firearms and ammunition without license, arson, rape, sexual assault, possession of suspected stolen motor vehicles, possession of drugs, possession of illicit cigarettes, stock theft, contravention of Liquor Act, contravention of Immigration Act, contravention of the National Road Traffic Act to assault.
Among the arrested, included a 35-year-old man who was arrested in Polokwane for possession and dealing in drugs “Police on Saturday, 7 November received a tip-off about a man in possession of drugs and followed up. During the arrest the police confiscated 14 sachets of rock cocaine and 13 sachets of ‘CAT’ (Methcathinone),” Ngoepe explained.
Meanwhile in Solomondale outside Mankweng, the police also arrested a 40-year-old man for dealing in drugs after he was caught with 54 sachets of dagga.
Read more: Men selling dagga at mall in Polokwane among 8 arrested during joint operations
Other operation success included the recovery of six firearms, six suspected stolen motor vehicles, various drugs and illicit cigarettes.
“In addition, 1 922 fines were issued for the contravention of the National Road Traffic Act, 48 shebeens were closed and a large amount of liquor confiscated, 16 486 people and 3 509 motor vehicles were searched,” Ngoepe added.
Ngoepe said the origin of some of the recovered items like motor vehicles, will still be determined through police investigations.
Ledwaba thanks the public for their continued cooperation. “The ‘valuable and positive information’ received from local communities has led to more criminals being put behind bars,” Ledwaba concluded. The arrested suspects will appear before the various magistrate courts soon.