LIMPOPO – Acting Limpopo police commissioner Major General Jan Scheepers has applauded the determination and hard work displayed by the men and women in blue following the arrest of over 2 500 people in just over a week.
The weekly operations, which led to the arrest of 2 567 people, were conducted throughout the province between Sunday (February 13) and Monday (February 21). They face charges ranging from murder through to the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition while a further four men who were nabbed during a separate operation on Tuesday (February 22) face charges of possession of illicit goods.
According to police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo various illicit goods and substances, dangerous weapons and stolen vehicles were seized during the said operations.
Read more: SAPS recover stolen vehicles worth R4m in Limpopo
One of the major breakthroughs this past week was the seizure of R1.1 million worth of illicit cigarettes and the arrest of three men involved.
Mojapelo explained that the men were nabbed by the Makhado SAPS on the N1 north. “The members were conducting routine crime prevention duties along N1 North when they attempted to stop three minibuses. The said vehicles immediately sped off and SAPS pursued until two were cornered and pulled off the road. The third vehicle got away.”
The vehicles were searched and a total of 103 master boxes of Remington Gold Cigarettes with an estimated street value of R1,1 million was found. “The vehicles and illicit goods were confiscated.”
Three men were arrested on the scene and charged with possession of illicit cigarettes.
Meanwhile a separate SAPS operation conducted in Mankweng on Tuesday (February 22), resulted in the arrest of four foreign nationals for possession of illicit cigarettes.
The men were nabbed in Unit A, Mankweng, and illicit cigarettes worth R50 000 was seized, said Mojapelo.
Some of the arrested suspects have made their first court appearance in the relevant magistrate’s court, while the others are set to appear soon.
Scheepers concluded that the SAPS will continue to ensure that the citizens of this province are safe and protected against criminals.
