Police in the Uthukela Cluster made six arrests on Wednesday for the possession of stolen property and possession of drugs.
In the first incident, Estcourt police officers were conducting stop-and-search crime prevention operations in the Ennersdale area when they spotted a suspicious-looking vehicle transporting three animals. On stopping the vehicle, the officers found that the cattle had more than one brand mark on them.
The two occupants in the vehicle, aged 46 and 49, were questioned by police. They then led the officers to the area they claimed they had bought the cattle. As soon as police arrived in the area, several people fled into the bushes.
Police found another five animals in the area. The Estcourt Stock Theft Unit have determined that the cattle were stolen and several owners are in the process of identifying their animals.
The two suspects have been charged with possession of stolen cattle and appeared in the Estcourt Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Estcourt police followed up this success with two separate arrests for drug possession.
Police also conducted a stop-and-search operation in the Rensburg Drift area on Wednesday. They spotted a suspicious-acting man and upon searching him, police found a small parcel of drugs weighing a few grams. The 22-year-old suspect was arrested and appeared in the Estcourt Magistrate’s Court the same day on charges of possession of dagga.
Then, Estcourt police were following up on information that drugs were seen at a hostel in the Mshayazafe area. At the hostel, police searched a 34-year-old man and found two straws of whoonga. The man was arrested and appeared in the Estcourt Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday on charges of possession of drugs.
Ekuvukeni police added to the number of arrests on Wednesday when a 39-year-old man was arrested in the Uitval area. This after police received information that drugs were being sold at a tuck-shop in the area.
Upon arrival at the tuck-shop, police located the suspect and seized 153 small parcels of dagga, as well as another packet of dagga. In total, the dagga weighed just under 1kg.
The suspect is set to appear in the Ekuvukeni Magistrate’s Court on charges of possession of dagga.
Ezakheni police were acting on information received on Wednesday when they arrested a 49-year-old woman. Officers searched a house in C-Section, where four parcels of dagga were found.
The suspect was arrested and is to appear in court on January 18 next year.
Amangwe police brought the total number of arrests to eight by arresting two suspects for possession of dagga.
Also on Wednesday, a 64-year-old man and a 21-year-old man were arrested in the Mqendandaba area. They were each found in possession of a parcel of dagga weighing a few grams. Both appeared in the Estcourt Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Police in the Uthukela Cluster say they are out in the field, day and night, in order to ensure a safe and secure festive season for the community. Arrests such as these go a long way towards achieving that goal.
