By Augustine Ehikioya
Cracking down on crimes and criminality, Police officials in South Africa have arrested 1,640 suspects in Limpopo Province within one week.
They were arrested during joint operations that were conducted in all the five Districts in the Province from last week Sunday 04 September to 12 September 2022.
The suspects, whose ages ranged between 23 and 40, were arrested for contravention of Immigration Act, robberies, stock theft, illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, theft of motor vehicle, possession of suspected stolen property, dealing and possession of drugs, amongst other offences.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by Lieutenant Colonel Malesela Ledwaba of the South African Police Service, Office of the Provincial Commissioner Limpopo. It was made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA) on Wednesday.
Giving details of the arrest, the statement said “In one of the operations, Thabazimbi Crime Intelligence Unit, Limpopo Highway Patrol and Modimolle K9 Unit arrested three suspects aged between 23 and 32 for dealing and possession of drugs during an intelligence driven operation conducted in Thabazimbi policing area.
“A total of 11 sachets of dagga and 42 sachets of Nyaope drugs were also seized during their arrests.
“A suspect was also nabbed for possession and dealing in drugs at Bendor suburb outside Polokwane.”
The statement said the Police had received information about a Red VW Polo motor vehicle that was allegedly delivering drugs in the vicinity and immediately commenced with the search.
It went on “The vehicle matching the description was located while parked at the gate in Hanani Estate and Police requested permission to search it and was granted.
“During the search, Police discovered Nyaope drugs with an estimated street of value of R20,000.00 concealed inside the motor vehicle.”
The suspect, it said, was immediately nabbed for possession and dealing in drugs.
On another case, the statement said, two suspects aged 26 and 34 were arrested along the R101 public road outside Modimolle in connection with suspected stolen livestock (goats) in the Gilead policing area.
“The owner of the goats went around searching for the goats at the auctions and found them in Hammanskraal, Gauteng Province. He reportedly confronted the suspects and they immediately drove off using a white Toyota Hilux bakkie.
“Highway Patrol members managed to locate the motor vehicle along the said road and it was cornered resulting in the arrest of two male suspects on stock theft charges.
“A total of 2,175 counterfeit cigarettes, dagga, dagga plants, Crystal Meth and Nyaope were seized including three firearms, liquor and 10 stolen motor vehicles were recovered during the operations.”
The Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, according to the statement, has welcomed the relentless efforts of the men and women in blue to combat crime across the Province following the apprehension of the suspects and seizure of the said items.
“The arrested suspects have already started to appear before their local Magistrate’s court. The Police operations are continuing,” it stated.