Crime in Brief

Operations are set to continue, in an effort to stamp out crime.

1 hour ago

Jani de Beer 1 minute read

Hooded figure holding a gun with the screen appearing to be cracked from a gunshot and the word Crime in red — Image: Caxton Local Media.

The Benoni Flying Squad (BFS) and Police Emergency Services (PES) arrested 137 suspects during operations between August 21 and 31.

Possession of drugs

• Thirteen suspects were arrested for drug-related offences in Kempton Park, Etwatwa, Daveyton, Rabie Ridge and Brakpan, leading to the recovery of meth, cocaine, heroin and dagga.
• BFS officers conducting routine stop-and-search operations along the N12 arrested the driver of a white Ford Ranger at the Snake Road off-ramp on August 28. The suspect was found transporting 15 bags of dagga with an estimated value of R5 000.
• Just after midnight on August 31, officers attempted to stop a Toyota Quantum for a routine search. The driver ignored signal attempts, prompting a call for back-up. Officers brought the minibus to a stop at the R21 Voortrekker Road off-ramp.
A search of the vehicle yielded 10 large bags of dagga with an estimated value of R20 000.
Police added a charge of bribery after suspects allegedly offered an officer R10 000 in exchange for their release.

Vehicle recovery

Officers also recovered an abandoned Mercedes Actros truck and two trailers on Airport Road in Brakpan. The truck had been reported stolen in a hijacking in Heidelberg.

Police Emergency Services (PES)

PES units, including the Flying Squad, K9 units and Highway Patrol, arrested 122 suspects across Gauteng between August 21 and 27.

The operation resulted in:
• Forty arrests for serious crimes, including assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, possession of suspected stolen property, bribery, house burglary, murder, cruelty to animals, contravention of a protection order, fraud, attempted murder, driving under the influence of alcohol, theft out of a motor vehicle, possession of endangered species, damage to essential infrastructure, theft, contravention of the Precious Metals Act and contravention of the Immigration Act.
• The recovery of 38 hijacked and stolen vehicles, with 22 arrests made for possession of these vehicles.
• Twenty-two arrests for possession of unlicensed firearms, resulting in the seizure of nine weapons.
• Thirty-eight arrests for possession of drugs with intent to sell, with officers recovering heroin, dagga, meth, cocaine and mandrax.

Information was supplied by BFS and PES spokesperson Warrant Officer Grant Giblin.

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