Limpopo SAPS hit hard on drug dealers and armed robbers
Police recovered firearms, dangerous weapons, dagga, crystal meth, cocaine, nyaope and other items during various operations.
LIMPOPO – Police in the province have managed to make 1 424 arrests between January 31 and February 10.
The suspects, aged between 27 and 54, were arrested on charges that include murder, business robberies, the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunitions, dealing in drugs and theft.
According to police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, 26 firearms, 2 414 sticks counterfeit cigarettes, 37 dangerous weapons, 2 766g of dagga, 35g of crystal meth, 18g of cocaine, 87g of nyaope, 39 knives and six stolen vehicles were recovered. A total of 1 578 fines were also issued in the same period.
Mojapelo noted some of the arrests:
Unlicensed firearms and ammunition
Three men were arrested at around 06:30 on January 30 for the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition in Lebowakgomo. They were arrested after Limpopo Highway Patrol members who patrolled along the R37, spotted a white SUV driving at a high speed.
Staged business robbery
An additional two men were arrested for the staged business robbery at a clothing store in Bela-Bela. A store manager and two female staff members were initially arrested for the business robbery that was staged on January 30.
Stolen properties
A 24-year-old man was arrested on February 1 after he was found to be in possession of suspected stolen goods. Siloam police received information about the stolen items that he was selling in the area, and he was subsequently arrested. “Police recovered cameras, camera lenses and a camera pouch. The properties were linked to an armed robbery that occurred in Boksburg in November 2021,” Mojapelo added.
Drugs in Modimolle and Nebo
Modimolle police officials, who conducted operation “Save a life” on February 3, arrested a 27-year-old man for selling drugs. Police were informed about his drug selling activities and stopped him while he was riding his bicycle. “Police searched him and found crystal meth and nyaope drugs, as well as a knife and cash. He tried to bribe the police with R1 000 and a charge of bribery was added,” Mojapelo explained.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a 25-year-old man was arrested for the possession of drugs at Nebo. The man was arrested on February 8 after police received a tip-off. “Police accurately followed the information and arrested the man in Mogaladi village. He was found in possession of 193 sachets of dagga, six sachets of crystal myth and 48 sachets of nyaope,” Mojapelo said.
Armed robbery in Mokopane
Three men, between the ages of 31 and 40, were arrested on February 1 for an armed robbery at a filling station in Mokopane. Mojapelo said some of the items stolen during the incident were found in their possession.
Murder of a foreign national
Two Lesotho nationals were arrested for the brutal murder of a fellow Lesotho national, aged 47. The men were arrested on Wednesday morning (February 9) after a 72-hour activation plan was put in motion by police in Masemola. “Police arrested the men at Merakeng under the Masemola policing precinct, and the motive for the attack will be revealed by the unfolding police investigations,” Mojapelo explained.
Business robberies in Mokopane and Mankweng
A total of 11 men were arrested soon after they committed business robberies in the Mokopane and Mankweng policing precincts respectively.
Read more: Limpopo SAPS confirms the arrest of seven suspects for Mokopane jewellery store robbery
These arrests have been welcomed by provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe. “The work done by the men and women in blue, in their relentless efforts of cleaning our streets and more over the stand which they took in many of these arrests as criminals wanted to corrupt them not to fulfil their constitutional mandate, is highly applaudable,” she said.
Hadebe sent a warning to officers who do, however, accept bribes. “We will stop at nothing to exchange their blue uniforms for orange overalls. We thank those who displayed in no uncertain terms their commitment in enforcing the rule of the law,” she added.
Mojapelo said some of the suspects have already appeared before various magistrate’s courts across the province.
