Florida police’s most recent operation recorded one of the largest successes of the month.
Operation Mongoose was held in two phases on July 12 and 13, focusing on liquor trading compliance, illegal mining, illegal immigrants and increased police visibility. Phase one featured 18 police officers, reservists and private security while phase two upped the numbers with 34 personnel from multiple policing precincts and private bodies.
Taverns have been in the spotlight in recent weeks and Florida police were successful in closing an establishment that was trading illegally. The owner was arrested and 59 bottles of alcohol amounting to just over 42 litres were confiscated. The trading of copper cables is another burning issue and Florida police secured the arrest of two suspects caught in possession of copper cables.
Illegal mining is a multifaceted issue that includes theft and environmental damage. Florida police confiscated two generators, a 13kg gas cylinder and 33 phenduka drums in their raid of illegal mining sites. Additionally, one detonator cord, two expired detonator cords and a tube of explosives were confiscated from the site.
Vehicle checkpoints are a strategic concentration of resources and the roadblocks yielded several arrests; 45 individuals and 23 vehicles were searched, with seven arrests made. Two of the arrests were for domestic violence-related assault charges, one for housebreaking and theft, and another for attempted housebreaking. The three other arrests were for contempt of court orders – two of which were for possession of drugs and the other being for immigration non-compliance.
Highlights from a previous operation were the arrest of two suspects in connection with business robberies in Florida. The red Toyota Tazz they used to commit the crimes was impounded at Lenasia Vehicle Impound Station with documents showing the vehicle’s identity plates belonged to an owner in the Free State. Florida police’s operations continue unabated, a continuing commitment to Florida station commander Colonel Amos Tsotsetsi’s partnership in policing strategy.
