LIMPOPO – The police joint operations which clamp down on criminal activities in the province, continue to yield positive results. This is evident after the police arrested a total of 1 985 suspects this past week for crimes ranging from possession of counterfeit cigarettes, possession of suspected stolen motor vehicles, possession of suspected stolen properties, possession of drugs to rape, assault and robbery.
Police Spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe says police in the Waterberg district arrested two suspects during operation “Thata Zonke” and clamped down on a drug syndicate.
A 48-year-old woman was arrested in Bele-Bela after she was found to be in the possession of 5 690 kg of dagga. Preliminary police investigations revealed that the woman was part of a drug syndicate in the area. Meanwhile in Mokopane the police arrested a 30-year-old man for possession and transportation of drugs after they received a tip-off from members about a blue BMW transporting drugs around the area. “The members swiftly reacted and the vehicle was stopped in Mokopane. During the bust the police discovered 40 sachets of drugs.
In a separate intelligence-driven operation the police arrested a 36-year-old man in Modimolle for possession of a suspected stolen vehicle. “Members of the Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit (VCIU) followed leads and recovered the a BMW X5 along the N1 North near the Kranskop Plaza. Preliminary police investigations revealed that the vehicle was stolen during a house robbery at Sandton in Gauteng earlier the month.”
In the Capricorn district the police arrested a 36 year old Zimbabwean national caught smuggling illicit cigarettes to the value of R558 419 into South Africa “The man was nabbed during a routine search operation at the Beit Bridge Port of Entry on Saturday, 13 March. A total of 1 044 cartons were found hidden inside the truck he was driving.”
The parallel operations were conducted through the stop and searches, roadblocks, patrols, tracing of wanted suspects and raiding of illegal businesses. “Seven suspected stolen motor vehicles, three trucks, 11 firearms and ammunition, 98 dangerous weapons and a various quantities of counterfeit cigarettes,drugs and liquor were confiscated.” Ngoepe added that 1 715 fines were issued for the Contravention of the National Road Traffic Act.
The arrested suspects are expected to appear before the relevant magistrate’s court soon.
