LIMPOPO – Provincial police commissioner Lt Gen Thembi Hadebe has welcomed the arrest of 1369 suspects, aged between 19 and 51, who were nabbed during simultaneous weekly joint operations.
The operations were conducted across the province between September 19 and 28, according to a statement by police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo.
“The suspects were arrested for various offences that include murder, attempted murder, robberies, rape, assault, stock theft, possession and dealing in illicit and drugs, possession of unlawful firearms as well as the possession of protected species,” he added.
Mojapelo highlighted some of the notable arrests:
Illicit cigarettes
Limpopo Highway Patrol and Bulgerivier police members arrested a truck driver and four security officers between the age of 38 and 51. They were nabbed in the Waterberg district on September 23 for the possession of illicit cigarettes worth R6.5m. “The police stopped the truck on the R510 road and searched it. They then discovered about 65 boxes of illicit cigarettes and as they questioned the driver, four security officers approached them and claimed they were escorting the truck to Grobler’s Bridge Port of Entry. They were arrested on the spot.”
Read more: Man arrested for rapes, robberies in and around Polokwane
Stolen motor vehicle
On September 22, Limpopo Highway Patrol members received information about a sedan that was robbed in Pretoria central. “They were conducting intensive patrols along the N1 when they received the information. A 39-year-old suspect was arrested at the Kranskop toll gate and was charged with robbery and possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle.”
Drugs
A 32-year-old suspect was arrested for dealing in drugs after his vehicle was stopped in Seshego on September 21 at about 23:00. An operation was conducted in the Capricorn district by the Highway Patrol to focus on hotspot areas. “Police confiscated sachets of nyaope, dagga and crystal meth with an estimated street valued of over R3 000.”
Possession of unlawful firearm and ammunition
“A 32-year-old suspect was arrested on September 20 for the possession of an unlawful firearm and ammunition at his rented flat in Louis Trichardt following a positive tip-off. Police searched the house and found a rifle with ammunition,” Mojapelo said.
Business robbery
The Flying Squad and Highway Patrol Team were alerted of a business burglary that took place at a clothing store in the Polokwane CBD. “The suspects forcefully opened the door to gain access and stole 44 cellphones. The members, with assistance from a local security company, managed to arrest the two suspects aged 37 and 40 who were driving along the R33. All the cellphones worth R45 000 were recovered.”
Stolen diesel
Tuinplaas police on September 21 arrested four suspects, aged between 30 and 40, for the possession of suspected stolen diesel. They were tipped-off by residents about the suspicious movements of two delivery trucks and a sedan vehicle on the R516 in Marble Hall. “The suspects were arrested at Marapyane village in Mpumalanga following a high-speed car chase. Seven containers full of diesel were confiscated.”
Stock theft
Two men, aged 45 and 46, were arrested for stock theft at Leeuwfontein village in the Marble Hall policing area on September 22. “Police discovered two slaughtered cows hidden inside their house, which was reportedly stolen in the area.”
Possession of a protected species
“A 25-year-old suspect was arrested in Lulekani after he was found in possession of a Pangolin, which is a protected species.”
Mojapelo said the operations were conducted through roadblocks, stop-and-searches, the tracing of wanted suspects, raids and intensive patrols.
“Some of the suspects have already started appearing before various magistrate’s courts across the province. The operations are continuing,” he concluded.
