Police in the Uthukela Cluster were hard at work during the past weekend and achieved successes during various policing operations.
In total, 57 people were arrested for crimes related to drugs, firearms, liquor and stolen property.
This included an arrest by Ekuvukeni police involving a 54-year-old suspect who fired shots at a 49-year-old man. The incident took place in the Hlati area. Further investigation at the time of the arrest revealed that the particulars of the suspect’s firearm did not correspond with that of his firearm licence. The suspect faces a charge of being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, as well as a charge of attempted murder.
Ladysmith police arrested six suspects for driving while under the influence of alcohol. The suspects are aged between 39 and 42 years of age.
Van Reenen police arrested a 58-year-old man, also for driving while under the influence of alcohol, and Colenso police arrested four suspects.
Wembezi police added to the arrests for driving while under the influence of alcohol by arresting a 27-year-old man, while Bergville police arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with the same charge.
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The police stations of Van Reenen, Winterton, Colenso, Weenen, Besters, Bergville, Ekuvukeni, Estcourt and Ezakheni also targeted other liquor-related offences, arresting 25 people for being drunk in a public place, drinking in public, selling liquor to a minor and selling liquor without a licence. These suspects varied in ages from 18 to 55.
Another 10 individuals, aged between 29 and 43, were arrested by police officers in Bergville for illegal gambling.
During the same weekend, Elandslaagte police officers arrested a 32-year-old woman after she was found in possession of electronic equipment suspected to have been stolen. The property was stolen in a housebreaking case during June this year.
The Ladysmith K9 Unit was also on hand to arrest a 27-year-old suspect who was found in possession of suspected stolen property in Ekuvukeni. In addition, a 42-year-old man was arrested in Ladysmith after being found in possession of suspected stolen diesel. The suspect’s vehicle was also seized as evidence.
A 30-year-old man was arrested on Sunday (July 30) in connection with two cases of housebreaking in the Ladysmith area, while four others were arrested in Colenso and Estcourt after they were found in possession of small amounts of dagga.
The majority of the suspects who were arrested on dagga and liquor-related charges opted to pay admission of guilt fines, while others were warned to appear in court.
Suspects arrested for other more serious crimes will appear in various courts across the Uthukela Cluster.
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