Tshwane: The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Tshwane successfully arrested 251 wanted suspects during an extensive crime operation conducted on Saturday.
According to South African Government News Agency, the operation was a collaborative effort involving the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department, the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Community Safety, the Department of Correctional Services, and members of the local Community Policing Forum. This initiative was executed in the Garsfontein and Boschkop policing precincts under the leadership of District Commissioner of Tshwane, Major-General Samuel Thine.
Detectives led the charge by tracing and arresting suspects linked to serious criminal offenses such as murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, and rape. The operation also included two operational teams supported by a roadblock component to ensure a strong police presence in the area. This resulted in the detention of 42 undocumented foreign nationals, who were subsequently handed over to immigration authorities for further processing.
In total, the operation involved the search of 608 individuals and 242 vehicles. Police patrols were conducted at 16 identified hotspots, and compliance checks were performed at 11 liquor outlets. Three of these outlets were closed due to non-compliance with the Liquor Act, and 110,520 ml of liquor were confiscated. Additionally, nine individuals faced fines for public drinking, and one suspect was arrested for drug possession and dealing after being found with 49 ziplock bags of dagga and cash.
Further tracing efforts by detectives led to the arrest of additional suspects for various offenses, including fraud, assault, malicious damage to property, and theft. Traffic officials also contributed by issuing six Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) infringement notices amounting to R4,000.
Major-General Thine expressed gratitude to all participating departments and stakeholders for their commitment to enhancing the safety and security of Tshwane residents.