Almost 1,000 suspects arrested in Gauteng over the weekend

According to a SAPS statement, police in Pretoria Moot over the weekend operationalised information of a delivery of a drug consignment. 

"The members spotted and pulled over the vehicle in question in Nico Smith Street in Pretoria Moot," says the police's Brigadier Mathapelo Peters. "Twelve packets of drugs suspected to be Methcathinone (CAT) plus an undisclosed amount of cash were found in the driver's possession. The value of the drugs is yet to be determined forensically."

The 34-year-old man was immediately arrested for possession of and dealing in drugs.

She goes on to say that in a parallel operation in Johannesburg District, a 33-year old suspect was arrested, also on a tip-off, at a residential complex in Winchester Hills, Mondeor on possession of drugs and the suspect is expected to appear before the Booysens Magistrate Court on Monday 18 November 2019.

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Still in a drug-related arrest in Fochville in the West Rand District, police uncovered an illegal drug laboratory on Deelkraal Farm in the Fochville policing precinct after K9 members found containers in a garage with chemicals. 

"A man was arrested while a second suspect believed to be the farm owner is sought. The type and monetary value of the drugs is yet to be determined pending forensic testing," says Peters. 

These arrests relating to drug-dealing form part of over 960 arrests that were effected this past weekend as the safer festive season operations across Gauteng Province gain momentum.

More than 400 suspects will appear before various courts in the Tshwane District facing various charges. 

Roadblocks manned by the SAPS, Gauteng Provincial Traffic and Tshwane Metro Police Department, saw fines issued for traffic offences while some suspects arrested for possession of stolen vehicles, illegal firearms, drugs, and other suspected stolen property.

In Hercules, police arrested two suspects found in possession of a hijacked and stolen vehicle respectively. The one vehicle was confirmed as hijacked in Hammanskraal and the second car is still undergoing tests by the Vehicle Crime Investigating Unit.

In the meantime, police in Ekurhuleni working closely with Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department, nabbed a total of 452 suspects for various crimes during operations conducted across the District.

A suspect was arrested in Springs after a high-speed chase during which he allegedly pointed a firearm at the police.

Peters says: "Members of the SAPS and the EMPD chased after a white bakkie that was driving at a high speed and had earlier failed to stop at a stop sign. The members attempted to flag down the driver but the car continued speeding. It is alleged that when the members caught up with the speeding bakkie, the driver pointed a firearm at the members. Police allegedly fired shots and the bakkie crashed into the barricades on the N12. The wounded driver was arrested after receiving medical attention on the scene. He was charged with possession of and pointing a firearm at police members; reckless and negligent driving; as well as driving while under the influence of alcohol. The firearm found in the suspect's possession was later found to be a replica."

Meanwhile, police during weekend operations in the Sedibeng District arrested 110 suspects for various crimes such as attempted murder, murder, attempted house break-in, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and other serious crimes.

Most of the operations over the weekend focused on liquor outlets as police intensify efforts to reduce the rate of road fatalities and contact crime that often come as a result of people being intoxicated over the festive season, says Peters. 

Compliance inspections at liquor premises were conducted across the Province where two unlicensed liquor outlets were closed down at a dilapidated building known as Beersheba in Pretoria Moot. In Rietgat and Kameeldrift several shebeens were closed that were operating illegally.

Four additional illegal shebeens were shut down in Douglasdale in Johannesburg with volumes of liquor confiscated and subsequently, equipment such as generators, refrigerators, and sound systems seized as instruments utilised during the commission of the crime. Fines were issued during operations for non-compliance with Liquor Board regulations. Other suspects were arrested for liquor-related offences such as drinking in public or being drunk in public.

Four illegal firearms were seized during the operations, including the replica found on the suspect arrested in Springs.

Peters says: "These arrests and confiscations are meant to serve as a warning to criminals that police will over this festive season, flood the streets of Gauteng towards ensuring a safe festive season for law-abiding residents of the Province. Crime prevention operations will be intensified and will address a wide spectrum of crimes such as the proliferation of illegal firearms and drugs, vehicle crime, road traffic offences, gender-based violence, and other serious and violent crimes. Police visibility will also be increased at places known to be crime hotspots over the festive season such as shopping malls and places of recreation."