LIMPOPO – A total of 2 560 arrests were made during the police’s recent joint operations. Of those arrests, 1 224 were people who contravened the Disaster Management Act by either failing to comply with the curfew, failing to wear masks and prohibited liquor trade.
According to a statement by Police Spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe, the other arrests were for various crimes, ranging from murder, attempted murder and robberies to drug related crimes, driving under the influence of alcohol and the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
The operation comprised of various units and Ngoepe said members of the Highway Patrol Team arrested 34 men, between the ages of 28 and 58, in the Capricorn, Waterberg and Sekhukhune Districts.
“Three men were apprehended for the possession and dealing in dagga and nyaope in Burgersfort. A large amount of cash was also confiscated,” he added.
Meanwhile, in Modimolle and Burgersfort, a 27 and 58 year old man were apprehended for the possession and dealing in drugs during an operation dubbed “Tight Grip”. They confiscated cash amounting to over R2 000.
In a separate incident, the Tuinplaas police, Rooiberg detectives and Themba crime prevention members arrested eight men linked to a business robbery in the area. “Stolen items, including a truck was recovered,” said Ngoepe.
In total, police managed to seize 19 firearms, 1 401 sticks of counterfeit cigarettes, 22 dangerous weapons, 3 284g dagga, 340 dagga plants, 40g Cat drugs, 236g of nyaope, 30 knives and four stolen/robbed motor vehicles.
“A total of 1 593 summons’ for the contravention of the road Traffic Act were also issued,” he added.
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Nneke Ledwaba appreciates the job done by all the Saps operational members across the province. He also thanked members of the community for providing quality and valuable information to the police which led to the arrests.
“The arrested suspects will appear before their local magistrate’s courts soon and others have already started appearing,” he concluded.
