BRITS POS – BRITS - With the aim of ensuring safety and security of all citizens, the operations conducted under the Safer Festive Season Operation Shanela II, between Monday, 20 and Sunday, 27 October, across the North West province resulted in the arrest of 1 139 suspects. “Through the execution of actions such as vehicle check points (VCP’s), stops and searches, foot and vehicle patrols, compliance inspections at second hand dealers, scrapyards, recyclers, private security, firearm dealers, formal and informal businesses, and farms; copper cables, explosives, tobacco products, liquor and a variety of drugs were seized,” reports SAPS North West spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone.
“In addition, the operations led to apprehension of 33 illegal migrants. 480 out of the 1 139 arrests were for circulated wanted suspects who were linked to the committed crimes through forensic DNA leads. The suspects, included those arrested for rape and attempted rape, assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm and common, burglary business and residential, murder and attempted murder, driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, possession of drugs, and illegal dealing in liquor.
District Highlights
*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, 23 October. During the arrests, the police confiscated drugs such as crystal meth, khat and mandrax, with an estimated street value of R21 000.
*In another arrest in the district, six suspects were on Friday evening, 24 October, arrested in Jouberton Location for possession of explosives. The suspects were arrested after the District Economic and Infrastructure Task Team (EITT) members, conducted a search at Extension 21, where they also found suspects in possession of materials and equipment used for illegal mining. All arrested suspects are illegal migrants from Zimbabwe. (Photos: SAPS)
