Lentswe, Klerksdorp - The police operations conducted under the Safer Festive Season Operation Shanela II, between October 20 and 27, resulted in the arrest of 1 139 suspects. The police are busy at vehicle check points (VCP’s), stop and searches, foot and vehicle patrols, and do regular compliance inspections at second hand dealers, scrapyards, recyclers, private security firms, at firearm dealers, formal and informal businesses, and farms. During these routine visits copper cables, explosives, tobacco products, liquor and a variety of drugs were seized.
The operations also led to the apprehension of 33 illegal immigrants. Another 480 out of the 1 139 arrests were for wanted suspects who were linked to crimes through forensic DNA leads.
In the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, the Provincial Anti-Gang, in conjunction with Provincial Proactive Drug Operations Unit, Potchefstroom POP, Ventersdorp Visible Policing and Community In Blue patrollers arrested five suspects, aged between 30 and 40, in Ventersdorp for possession of illegal substances on Thursday October 23. During the arrests, the police confiscated drugs such as crystal meth, khat and mandrax, all with an estimated street value of R21 000.
In another arrest in the district, six suspects were arrested on Friday October 24 in Jouberton for possession of explosives. The suspects were arrested after the District Economic and Infrastructure Task Team (EITT) members, conducted a search at Ext 21, where they also found suspects in possession of material and equipment used for illegal mining. All arrested suspects are illegal migrants from Zimbabwe.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the North West, Maj-Genl (Dr) Ryno Naidoo, thanked all law enforcement officials for their collaborative efforts in the fight against crime during this period to safeguard communities.
