POLOKWANE – The Safer Festive Season joint operations conducted by members of the South African Police Service in Limpopo until Monday 14 December 2020, in the process of displaying a zero-tolerance approach towards the criminals and to any form of criminality, led to the apprehension of 2187 suspects aged between 20 and 56.
The suspects were arrested for various offences that include possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, possession and dealing in drugs and illicit cigarettes, murder, attempted murder, robberies, burglaries, assault, theft of motor vehicle, Contravention of the Road Traffic Act, sexual offences, stock theft, possession of suspected stolen properties, illegal Immigration Act, arson, drunk and driving etc.
The operations comprised of the Public Order Police Unit, Crime Intelligence Unit, Detectives, the Limpopo Highway Patrol Team (LHP), Tactical Response Team (TRT), Organised Crime Unit, Narcotics Unit, Stock Theft Unit, Vehicle Crime Investigation (VCIU) Unit, K9 Unit and Airwing, joined by the Provincial and Municipal Traffic Police.
During the operations and as part of enforcing compliance with the Liquor Act, 445 fines were issued for liquor-related offences that included drinking and drunk in public places. In addition, 758 Second-Hand Goods Act Compliance Inspections were conducted and 50 shebeens were also shut down.
Furthermore, Police during these operations confiscated six(06) firearms, 20 suspected stolen or hijacked motor vehicles, 11 cellphones, 01 caterpillar, 53 dangerous weapons, liquor, litres of stolen diesel, illicit cigarettes, suspected stolen properties including electronic devices, a cash amount of money, groceries, tools, jumping castle, generators, drugs such as nyaope, cat and dagga.
In the process of these operations, 2589 fines and compliance notices relating to the Road Traffic Act were issued.
The suspects arrested during these operations are expected to appear before different magistrate courts throughout the Province.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba, is highly impressed with the successes reached during these operations and stressed that there will be no space for criminals to operate in the province throughout this festive period and beyond.
Anyone who might witness a criminal act or who has information about a wanted suspect or the existence of illegal firearms or stolen items including cars, should urgently call the nearest Police Station or the 10111 number or the Crime Stop number 0860010111 or MySAPSApp.
Safer Festive Season joint operations tightening the grip on criminals as over two thousand nabbed https://t.co/sesrxPSPZL#ArriveAlive #SaferFestiveSeason #Operations @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/yEAuWNVvuc
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) December 15, 2020