LIMPOPO – In a concerted effort to stabilize crime in Limpopo, police have arrested 646 suspects between the ages of 23 and 62-years-old for various offenses. The arrests were made during intelligence led joint operations, which were conducted until this morning, 18 February, covering most parts of the province, says police spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngeoepe.
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“These operations saw various police units including crime intelligence, crime prevention, detectives and Public Order Police (POP). The operations were conducted to stabilise and normalise crime infested areas, through roadblocks, stop and searches, tracing of wanted suspects and raiding of unlicensed businesses, including liquor outlets,” Ngoepe explained.
The suspects were all arrested for crimes raging from murder, attempted murder, business and house robbery, armed robbery, burglary: residential and business, rape, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, possession of drugs and suspected stolen properties, fraud, impersonating a police officer, contravention of Immigration Act, driving under the influence of liquor and operating unlicensed liquor outlets.
During these operations, 14 firearms, four toy guns and 158 rounds of live ammunition were confiscated.
Other items confiscated included 13 motor vehicles, 38 cellphones, three plasma tv’s, three laptops and three music systems.
In addition, R4 300 in coins was also found as well as fake drivers licenses and police appointment cards. Drugs recovered included 67 sachets of nyaope, eight sachets of rock and 92 plastic bags containing dagga.
On Sunday, 17 February, the Tzaneen cluster tracking team, in partnership with private security, arrested two suspects for multiple cases of burglaries they committed in and around the Tzaneen area. Cellphones and a TV were recovered during the arrest.
The suspects will appear before the Tzaneen Magistrate Court, soon, on a charge of possession of suspected stolen properties.
“The origin of all the recovered motor vehicles, firearms, ammunition and several other items, is still being determined by the ongoing police investigations and the suspects have started appearing before various Magistrate Courts around the province,” Ngoepe said.
Acting Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Major General Jan Scheepers, has welcomed the arrests and commended all Saps members who participated in these operations on the job well done.
