South African police net 1 796 in border patrols

By Thupeyo Muleya

South African police have intensified crime prevention operations along the border with Zimbabwe and the entire Limpopo province.

Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe said they arrested 1 796 people during the weekend and among these were border jumpers and cigarette smugglers.

Other suspects aged between 21 and 59 years, were arrested south of the border for burglaries, business robberies, possession of suspected stolen motor vehicles and dealing in drugs, possession of unlicensed firearms, Contravention of Disaster Management Act, and contravention of the Immigration Act.

Col Ngoepe said the suspects were rounded up during a joint security operation dubbed “Thata Zonke” (take everything).

He said they would soon appear before different magistrates courts across the province.

The operation, he said, involved roadblocks, patrols, stop and searches and the tracing of wanted suspects.

“We have recovered a variety of items including six firearms, five suspected stolen motor vehicles, 407 sticks of counterfeit cigarettes, 60 dangerous weapons including 33 knives, 178 grams of dagga, 177 dagga plants, cocaine drugs powder, crystal meth drugs, cat drugs, nyaope drugs, 1 276 505 litres of liquor and 1 860 fines were issued for the contravention of the Road Traffic Act,” said Col Ngoepe. The Herald