LIMPOPO – 2 031 people have been arrested by police in Limpopo during joint operations conducted between 7 and 13 September.

The suspects, between the ages of 17 and 51 were arrested for various charges such as murder, rape, stock theft, the possession of unlicensed firearms, driving under the influence of alcohol, public drinking and the possession of illicit cigarettes, among others.

Police Spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe says the operations comprised of members of Crime Intelligence, stock theft, Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units as well as detectives, Public Order Policing members, the K9 Unit, Limpopo Highway Patrol (LHP), and the Visible Policing and Crime Prevention units. They were supported by South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and provincial and municipal traffic police members.

“The police seized a variety of items during these operations which were conducted in various ways including 2 782 compliance inspections at liquor premises, 241 liquor control operations, 130 roadblocks, 149 rural safety operations and 3 514 stop and searches,” Ngoepe added.

He said one of the arrests included a 21-year-old man, deemed a ‘potentially dangerous criminal’, who was arrested at his hideout in Lebowakgomo.

“In Northam outside Bela-Bela, police arrested three men, between the ages of 22 and 44 in connection with a business robbery incident which they committed on 7 September at a local trading store. The arrest was effected in a concerted effort by Bela-Bela Crime Intelligence and Rooiberg detectives after they received information about the hideout of the men. A light motor vehicle, cellphone and a pallet gun was recovered,” Ngoepe said.

Other items seized included:

• 13 firearms
• Three rifles
• Five motor vehicles
• 10 cellphones
• 438 555 counterfeit cigarettes
• 61 dangerous weapons
• 12 107g of dagga
• 112g of nyaope
• 1 311 bottles of liquor