Durban — A two-day joint operation by various role players including various districts in the SAPS, Metropolitan Police, Department of Home Affairs, Customs and Department of Correctional Services resulted in the arrest of 115 suspects.
The operation was held from Friday, August 5, 2022, until late on Saturday night.
The operation was conducted simultaneously at Durban North, Point, Durban Central, Umbilo, Greenwood Park and other areas within the Ethekwini District.
“The operation focused on drugs, illegal firearms, counterfeit goods, illegal liquor outlets, undocumented persons and offenders who have absconded their parole,” said police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Nqobile Gwala.
“A total of 115 suspects were arrested for various crimes including 54 for contravention of the Immigration Act, five for possession of drugs, six for non-compliance of the liquor act, 31 for road traffic offences and six for drinking in public.”
Municipal by-laws were also enforced during the operation.
Gwala said that also during the operation, scrap metal dealers were also visited to check compliance in terms of the Second Hand Goods Act.
“The team proceeded to a scrap metal dealer in Greenwood Park and upon seeing the police officers, the owner fled his business premises. Police recovered copper pipes, copper cables and a railway control arm at the premises. The total value of the recovered property is R30 000,” Gwala said.
She added that all liquor outlets were visited to check if they are complying with the Liquor Act.
“Three knives were also seized by police. Such operations will be ongoing across the province to curb acts of criminality and remove perpetrators of crime from our streets,” Gwala said.
According to information received from the Umbilo Community Policing Forum, there was a high-visibility operation, vehicle checkpoint, stop and search operation and blue light patrols between 2pm and 10pm on Saturday.
There were 32 officers and 13 vehicles from Umbilo SAPS visible police and 11 officers and six vehicles.
They were deployed to prevent trio crimes, armed robberies and arrests for direct policeable crimes.
The information read that 13 undocumented illegal immigrants suspect were arrested. Dangerous weapons were also recovered. Liquor was confiscated and one arrest was made.
Deployment for Umbilo was from all stations from Ugu district: Margate, Port Shepstone, Umzinto, Scottburgh and Pietermaritzburg,
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