POLOKWANE: 09 August 2021- The Police in Limpopo have arrested 1538 suspects aged between 20 and 50 during the intensified weekly joint operations carried out across the province, since 02 August until today on Monday 09 August 2021. The arrests include 199 for Contravention of the Regulations under the Disaster Management Act.
The operations were conducted through roadblocks, stop and searches, tracing of wanted suspects as well as raids and these suspects were arrested for crimes that include murder, robberies, possession of unlawful firearms and ammunition, assaults, possession of suspected stolen properties and possession of drugs and illicit cigarettes.
On 2021-08-03 members attached to Groblersbrug Border Policing apprehended a truck driver for the smuggling of illicit cigarettes and medicaments. 350x cartons of Pacific Blue illicit cigarettes valued at R93 426.00, 7500 x packets of Power Apetito tablets valued at R150 000.00 and 1 x Volvo Truck and Trailers valued at R1.2 million were confiscated.
■ A Tactical Intelligence driven joint operation by Tshilwavhusiku Detectives and Vispol members activated to trace suspects responsible for the murder of a male victim who was stabbed to death on 04 August 2021 at Tshikwani village, led to the arrest of two suspects aged 29 and 47 on 07 August.
■ On 03 August 2021, Saps Bandelierkop, Highway Patrol Team with assistance of the Rural Safety and Defendum private security managed to apprehend a 50 year old suspect after he allegedly robbed a victim of cash and a cellphone on the N1 South road. The suspect was arrested at Elim driving in a Toyota Corolla and the robbed items were recovered.
■ On 04 August 2021, the Saps Tzaneen Crime Intelligence Unit received a tip-off about business robbery at Setone village and immediately activated the Highway Patrol Team. Two suspects aged 48 and 49 were arrested. They were found in possession of suspected stolen airtime vouchers and the getaway Ford bakkie was confiscated.
■ On 05 August 2021, the Highway Patrol Team and Saps Marble Hall Crime Intelligence Unit made another breakthrough when they arrested three suspects aged between 21 and 34 linked to a spate of armed robberies in and around Sekhukhune District. One firearm with ammunition and dagga were recovered.
On the same day the Team recovered a stolen vehicle in Burgersfort next to Thaba Moshate Casino. Six occupants aged between 20 and 35 were arrested and the Toyota sedan was reported stolen in Boksburg, Gauteng province.
■ On 06 August 2021, High Patrol Team arrested a 29 year old suspect for armed robbery committed in Dennilton and a revolver 38 special was recovered.
■ During a Tactical Intelligence driven joint operation conducted on 06 August 2021 by Saps Modimolle Crime Intelligence Unit, K9 Unit, Public Order Policing and Endangered Species Unit joined by External Stakeholders, a 41 year old suspect was arrested at Vaalwater after he was found in possession of an AK47 rifle with 10 live rounds of ammunition.
■ On 07 August 2021, Saps Phalaborwa Crime Intelligence Unit, Mopani District Task Team and Namakgale Crime Prevention conducted an Intelligence driven joint operation that led to the arrest of a 31 year old suspect for possession of copper cables and theft at his home in Namakgale.
▪️On 2021-08-04 at about 08h00 a foreign National was apprehended after he was found in possession of a Pangolin at his farm house under Lephalale policing area.
During these operations, Police also confiscated 13 firearms, 04 stolen vehicles, various drugs and suspected stolen properties such as electrical appliances as well as huge quantities of liquor.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has lauded the police officers for these successes.
Some of these suspects have started appearing in various magistrate courts across the province.
