Criminals have no boundaries and their activities extend beyond Province boundary lines hence in order to be a step ahead of them, it is important to conduct cross-border operations with the aim of squeezing their space.
From 25 to 29 September 2023, the South African Police Service from the Eastern, Western and Northern Cape and the Free State held multi-disciplinary operations on the main and secondary routes between these provinces with the main focus on the transportation of stolen goods, drugs, firearms, stock theft and various other illegal goods. Crime combatting, high-density patrols in hotspot areas, roadblocks on the main and secondary exit and entrance routes proved successful. The base for the Joint Operational Centre (JOC) was in George in the Western Cape.
The successes achieved across the four provinces, were:
• 453 suspects were arrested for crimes including stock theft, robbery, assault, property related crimes, malicious damage to property, possession of suspected stolen property, theft, drug related offences and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
•100 undocumented persons were arrested for contravening the Immigration Act and 10 persons for illicit mining. These suspects were handed over to be processed by officials from the Department of Home Affairs.
• Drugs valued at approximately R838 633 were confiscated across the four provinces.
• 10 firearms and 173 rounds of ammunition were seized
• Merchandise worth R1 791 556.00 comprising of illicit perfumes, liquor, board games were seized at a Port of Entry in Central and North End in Gqeberha during a joint intelligence operation between SAPS and SARS Custom officials,
• 8133 vehicles and 11 837 persons were stopped and searched as well as 2069 occupant’s luggage were checked and scanned
• 7 vehicles with an estimated value of R920 000.00 were confiscated
• Fines to the amount of R193 750.00 were issued during compliance inspections at different establishments, liquor outlets, second hand goods shops and scrapyards.
Some of the significant successes achieved during the week-long operation included the following:
•In the Free State the SAPS members held a roadblock on the R702 when a charcoal Toyota Fortuner was spotted without registration number plates. The vehicle was stopped and a Black Pietro Berreta 9mm pistol loaded with twelve (12) live rounds of ammunition was found on the driver’s side. A Silver KWC pistol with two (2) rounds was found hidden inside a file. A Brown BLOW F92 with ten (10) rounds was found rolled in a jacket. A fourth firearm, a Black Taurus pistol with ammunition was also found in the vehicle.
• A red police crime scene jacket, silver handcuffs, pepper spray and a police docket cover were also found inside the motor vehicle clearly indicating that the suspects were impersonating the police. The six males; two undocumented persons and four South African citizens aged between 27 and 53 were immediately arrested.
A case docket for possession of unlicensed firearms and impersonating the police was opened at Bloemspruit Police Station. The detectives will also probe possible links to other cases within and across the Provinces.
•In the Northern Cape at a vehicle control point a vehicle was searched on the N14 (Pofadder). SAPS members confiscated 634 protected Conophytum species plants that was being transported with an estimated value of R31 700. Two suspects aged 24 and 32 were arrested under the Northern Cape Nature Conservation Act No 9 of 2009 – Illegal possession of protected plants.
• During another vehicle control point on the R31, (Kimberley and Barkly West the members searched a vehicle and confiscated 2175 grams of crystal meth (tik) with an estimated value of R 590 200.00. The drugs were found in the boot of a vehicle in plastic containers. A 48-year-old suspect was arrested on charges of possession of drugs. The members also confiscated three cell phones and the vehicle was impounded.
Also in the Northern Cape the SAPS members received information of undocumented persons, working on farms in the Pixley Ka Seme district. A total of 18 undocumented persons was arrested in terms of the Contravention of the Immigration Act13/2002 and Section 49(14),(15) Act13/2002 for producing fraudulent passport. The farm owners who employed these foreigners will be charge in terms of Section38 Act13/2002 Employing illegal foreigners where status does not authorize him/her to be employed.
• Still in the Northern Cape, Public Order Policing and SAPS Kleinzee Crime Prevention followed up on information regarding illicit mining on the premises of Kleinzee holdings. They arrested 10 undocumented persons and confiscated 22 bags of suspected diamond bearing gravel and 2 sieves.
• The Western Cape Province recovered a total six firearms. During the execution of a search warrant in Klapmuts SAPS K9 members confiscated a 9mm norinco firearm, more intelligence was gathered and during a search of a house in Durbanville the members confiscated 9mm Norinco and a .22 browning with 11 x 9mm rounds and 24 x 7.62 (R1) rounds of ammunition and they also confiscated stolen property. Three suspects aged 28 and 37 were arrested on charges of unlawful possession of unlicensed firearms, unlawful possession of ammunition and possession of suspected stolen property. In another unrelated operation SAPS Malmesbury members recovered a .22 revolver and a 105 rounds of ammunition and arrested a suspect on charges of possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition. In the recent confiscation SAPS Prince Alfred Hamlet members followed up on information received in Prince Alfred Hamlet and confiscated a 9mm Norinco with 2 9mm rounds of ammunition. A 42 year old was arrested on charges of possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
• Between Saldanha en Vredenburg on the Saldanha Road, SAPS Vredenburg members were busy with high density patrols and noticed a suspicious vehicle with two occupants. The members stopped the vehicle and during a routine search they confiscated 728 grams of cocaine with an estimated street value of R295 000.00. Two suspects aged 34 and 38 were arrested on charges of possession of drugs.
• During a joint operation in Kayamandi in Stellenbosch ,SAPS Stellenbosch crime prevention unit, Home Affairs, Economical Crime Task team and the Provincial Extortion team were busy with high-density patrols within hotspots areas in Kayamandi and during the search of a house in they confiscated 2160 rolls of dagga, 8 x mandrax, 1 x ¾ mandrax, 9 X ½ mandrax, 16 x ¼ mandrax tablets and 1845 x dagga cigarettes. Three suspects was arrested aged between 30 and 37 on charges of possession of drugs.
• In the Eastern Cape the Border Policing Port Elizabeth support followed up on information regarding illicit/counterfeit goods at shops within shopping malls in Gqeberha. The members confiscated counterfeit perfumes and whitening creams together with sexual enhancement tablets and counterfeit board Games. The value of the items is estimated at R1 529 100 and was subsequently handed over to the relevant authorities for further investigation.
•The Eastern Cape Border Policing in Gqeberha conducted compliance inspections at various shops within the central business district (CBD) and confiscated seven illegal Chinese gambling machines and arrested three foreign nationals on charges for the Violation of the Eastern Cape Gambling Act 5 of 1997.
The hosting Province in this operation was the Eastern Cape. The Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Zithulele Dladla commended the four participating provinces for their dedication and commitment during the week’s operations that took place simultaneously across their borders. ‘These proactive operations show that criminals can run but can never hide as our dedicated men and women in blue are committed to maintaining law and order in our country. We appreciate the commitment and integrated support from all other role-players who were involved in the operations. Together, we make our Provincial borders, safe,’ added Maj Gen Dladla.
Content retrieved from: https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=48774.
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