LIMPOPO – In a concerted effort to fight the mushrooming of drugs as well as serious and violent crimes in the province, the police have, during an intelligent-led-joint-clean-up operation, which was running parallel with Operation “Zonke”, achieved magnificent results which saw the recovery of a number of stolen properties and drugs.
A 37-year-old man was arrested and found with 4.22 kg of dagga with an estimated street value of R14 000.
Police spokesperson Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe says the suspect will appear before the Polokwane Magistrates Court soon on a charge of dealing dagga.
Ngoepe explained that the operations which are composed of various police units, focused on all areas throughout the province and has led to the arrest of several suspects for various offenses, as well as recovery of a large number of stolen items.
In Zebediela, outside Mokopane, four suspects, between the ages of 21 and 33-years-old, were arrested for a series of burglary incidents and the following items were recovered:
– Four laptops
– One black Toshiba hard drive, one silver headlamp and light, three pocket knives, two laptop chargers, all with the estimated value of R25 000.
The suspects will appear before the Magatle Magistrates Court, soon.
Operation ‘Zonke’, which covered Burgersfort, Bela Bela and Lebowakgomo, which was led by the provincial drug unit, led to the arrest of a 25-year-old man at Ga-Mphahlele, near Lebowakgomo and the following items were recovered:
– 114 sachets of drugs with the street value of R5 700.
– Two unlicensed firearms, with two magazines.
– 22 rounds of live ammunition.
– Cash amounting to R1 645, 60.
Ngoepe says the operation also covered the following policing areas: Westernburg, Seshego, Thohoyandou, Makhado, Mokwakwaila, Northam, Phalaborwa, Thabazimbi, Bela-Bela, Burgersfort, Musina, Lebowakgomo, Tshilwavhusiku, Dorest, Ritavi, Lephalale, Marble Hall, Modimolle, Giyani, Tubatse, Groblesdal, Apel, Saselamani, Lulekani and Jane Furse.
During these operation, a total of 84 suspects between the ages 19 and 50-years-old, were arrested for various offences ranging from possession of drugs, firearms and ammunition, carjacking, house robbery, burglary to theft of motor vehicles and the following items were recovered:
– Five firearms
– One rifle and six ammunition.
– Seven cell phones and one tablet.
– Seven motor vehicles.
– 125g of cocaine and 138.5g of other drugs.
– Two boxes of dagga, valued at R10 500.
– 32.146g of dagga.
– Stolen items such as: cigarettes, jewellery, laptops, DVD’s and plasma TVs.
“All the arrested suspects have began appearing before different Magistrates Courts throughout the province,” Ngoepe concluded.
