Gauteng police have arrested more than 1400 suspects over the weekend of 1 September 2019 and recovered 15 unlicensed firearms.
Suspects were arrested during operations and routine police stop-and-search activations in various parts of the Province. The perpetrators were found to have committed serious and violent crime such as murder, attempted murder, robbery, car hijacking, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, rape, fraud and theft.
Diligent and intelligent police observation during the routine patrols led to the discovery of most firearms. Police believe that these are firearms possibly used during the commission of serious and violent crime.
Police also pounced on a drug dealer in Zola, Soweto, after operationalizing information received from the community. The suspect was found in possession of about 25 mandrax pills. Upon searching his property, police also found more than 230 paper-wrapped dagga. The suspect was charged with possession of and dealing in drugs.
Wrapping up Women’s Month, police-women intensified crime combating operations and traced wanted suspects in Johannesburg and Soweto. This intelligence-driven operations led to the arrest of more than 100 suspects for crime ranging from rape, murder, assault, theft, intimidation, pointing of firearm and robberies.
Meanwhile, over 820 suspects were nabbed in Tshwane and Ekurhuleni by the integrated law enforcement agencies made up of the SAPS, Metro Police Departments and Gauteng Traffic Police. These suspects were arrested during the roadblocks, raiding of illegal liquor outlets, tracing of wanted suspects as well as stop-and-searches.
Joint intelligence-driven operations were also spot-on and yielded positive results in Sedibeng and West Rand where more than 520 suspects were arrested for offences ranging from assault, robbery, possession of suspected stolen property, rape, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearm and possession of drugs.
Police management in the Province have noted with appreciation the involvement of the community in the fight against crime as most of the suspects were arrested through tip-offs and information received from the members of the public.
The arrested suspects will appear in various Magistrate Courts in due course.
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