The police in Limpopo have arrested 1 538 suspects for the period 2 to 9 August during their intensified weekly joint operations. The operations included roadblocks, stop and searches and tracing of wanted suspects.
Among those arrested were suspects wanted for murder, robbery, possession of unlawful firearms and ammunition, assault, possession of suspected stolen property and the possession of drugs and illicit cigarettes. The arrests included 199 for contravening the Disaster Management Act.
At Tshilwavhusiku, detectives and Vispol members traced and arrested two suspects accused of stabbing a man to death at Tshikhwani village on 4 August.
Members of the Bandelierkop SAPS and Highway Patrol Team, with the assistance of the Rural Safety team and Defendum private security firm, also managed to apprehend a 50-year-old suspect after he had allegedly robbed a victim of cash and a cellphone on the N1 South. The suspect was arrested at Elim while driving in a Toyota Corolla and the robbed items were recovered.
In the Tzaneen area, the police's Crime Intelligence Unit received a tip-off about a business robbery at Setone village and immediately activated the Highway Patrol Team. Two suspects, aged 48 and 49, were arrested. The suspects were found in possession of suspected stolen airtime vouchers and their getaway Ford bakkie was confiscated.
Further afield, police members attached to Groblersbrug apprehended a truck driver for the smuggling of illegal cigarettes and medicaments. Illegal cigarettes valued at about R93 500 000, Power Apetito tablets valued at R150 000, and one Volvo truck and trailers valued at about R1.2 million were confiscated.
In the Marble Hall policing area, the Crime Intelligence Unit made another breakthrough when they arrested three suspects 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 were arrested and the Toyota sedan that was reported stolen in Boksburg, Gauteng was recovered.
Members of the High Patrol Team also arrested a suspect for an armed robbery committed in Dennilton, and a .38-Special revolver was recovered. Meanwhile, police in the Vaalwater area arrested a suspect for the possession of an AK 47 rifle and 10 live rounds, while another man was arrested for being in possession of a pangolin in the Lephalale policing area.
During the weeklong operations, police confiscated 13 firearms, four stolen vehicles, various drugs, and suspected stolen property such as electrical appliances as well as huge quantities of liquor. Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has lauded the police officers for these successes.