The previous week has seen a flurry of police activity around the country, aimed at addressing crime in areas of concern, with police collaborating with various other government departments.
Operation Vala Umgodi
A South African Police Service (SAPS) Border Police roving team, alongside customs officials from the South African Revenue Service (SARS), were deployed in Limpopo under Operation Vala Umgodi. Together, the team seized illicit tobacco products worth more than R21 million and arrested three undocumented Zimbabwean nationals in Musina on Wednesday 25 September 2024.
According to a preliminary report, the team received information regarding a consignment of illicit tobacco products making its way on a truck through Musina. The truck was successfully intercepted by officers, which resulted in the seizure of the illicit tobacco products and the arrest of the three suspects.
On the same day, a Mission Area Joint Operational Centre (MAJOC) roving team comprising officers from Public Order Policing (POP) and Tactical Response Team (TRT), assisted by SAPS drone pilots, arrested another five Zimbabwean nationals at an address in Musina. The suspects were arrested for the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, with officers seizing three firearms and 74 rounds of ammunition.
Further investigation revealed one of these firearms was used in a Potchefstroom house robbery case.
At the same address, the team arrested three more Zimbabwean nationals for the possession of dagga. Over 110 kilograms of dagga with an estimated street value of R137 000 was seized.
These successes follow within days after police destroyed a man-made bridge over the Limpopo River near the Beit Bridge Border Post.
Within the first six months of its’ activation, Operation Vala Umgodi recorded over 6000 arrests within the period of December 2023 to June 2024 countrywide.
Operation Shanela
In Gauteng, the SAPS has continued to conduct high-density operations aimed at ensuring that criminals have no space to operate. This past weekend, from Friday 27 September until Sunday 29 September 2024, over 800 suspects were arrested as officers traced wanted suspects, conducted roadblocks, raided liquor outlets and performed stop and searches, among other crime prevention activities. Suspects were arrested for crimes including rape, murder, assault, housebreaking and theft, armed robbery, fraud, and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH).
A total of 196 suspects were arrested in Johannesburg District, where the Acting Provincial Commissioner in Gauteng, Major General Fred Kekana, led an integrated high-density Operation. This included a roadblock in Honeydew on Saturday evening, 28 September, where 63 illegal immigrants were apprehended. Eight were arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol, three for possession of drugs, one for fraud and twelve unlicensed liquor outlets were closed.
Tshwane saw 238 arrests, followed by 150 in Ekurhuleni District, 77 in West Rand District and 63 in Sedibeng District.
Some of the suspects were released after paying admission of guilt fine while others are expected to appear before various Magistrate Courts in Gauteng from Monday 31 September.
A week-long operation in the Northern Cape saw the SAPS collaborate with the Departments of Home Affairs, Health, Correctional Services, Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, Human Settlements and SARS. Together they executed operations under the banner of Operation Shanela with the focus on illegal firearms and contact crimes.
Disruptive actions were executed in high crime areas, which included roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints, high visibility patrols, compliance inspections, and stop and search actions.
These actions resulted in the arrest of 285 suspects for an array of crimes. This includes the arrest of 110 wanted suspects for serious crimes such as business robbery, murder, rape and assault GBH.
A total of 5300 persons and 2950 vehicles were stopped and searched at roadblocks and vehicle check points. Two unlicensed liquor outlets were closed during compliance inspections, and hundreds of litres of alcohol were confiscated.
A significant quantity of drugs, including dagga, crystal meth and mandrax were seized during search actions.
SAPS has stated that efforts to combat crime will continue “unabated to curb priority crimes throughout the province.”
Drug mule arrest
A joint operation between SAPS and the SARS Customs at the OR Tambo International Airport has led to the arrest of a 21-year-old South African woman for drug trafficking. This is the eleventh drug mule to be arrested at OR Tambo in a period of two months.
The drug mule was profiled and intercepted as she was arriving on a flight from São Paulo, Brazil on Sunday morning, just before 09:00. She was taken to a local hospital where an X-ray confirmed that she had foreign objects in her stomach.
National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola has commended the vigilance of members of SARS and SAPS at the Airport.
“Our men and women in blue working closely with SARS customs and various stakeholders continue to assert the authority of the state at all our ports of entry. We appreciate the hardwork and dedication of our members and urge them to do more to squeeze the space for criminals. Drug traffickers are feeling the heat and there is nowhere to hide”, said Masemola.
Over the last month, there have been weekly interceptions from drug mules at OR Tambo, with the majority arriving from São Paulo.
Previously on Sunday, 22 September 2024, a 30-year-old Namibian drug mule was arrested after arriving from São Paulo. After being taken for medical examination, she was found to be carrying more than 60 drug bullets. She has already appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrates Court on a charge of dealing in drugs.
On Friday, 13 September 2024, A Nigerian drug mule was arrested after he was found in possession of cocaine concealed in aircraft headphones. He too had just landed from São Paulo. He has already appeared before the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on a charge of dealing in drugs.
Major Drug Bust
Police in Jane Furse, under the Sekhukhune District, arrested a 23-year-old suspect following the recovery of drugs with an estimated street value of R4 million, on Friday 27 September.
Crime Prevention Unit members in the area received a tip-off about possible possession of drugs, and promptly followed up on the information. The suspect was driving a white Hyundai i20 and was stopped by the Crime Prevention members. Upon searching him, he was found in possession of two black plastic bags containing tablets, believed to be mandrax.
