Many arrests and fines in operation
anti-crime operation in Leiden, Delft, when officers noticed a suspicious vehicle. When they searched it they found 450 dried abalone in the vehicle. The driver was arrested and charged for the illegal possession of abalone.
Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith said their marine unit assisted with the arrest.
“The poaching of abalone is a major problem because it is depleting our marine resources. The unit has been in existence four years and is delivering successes. It has developed good crime intelligence and received training from other marine enforcement units. The man who was electrocuted is gruesome, but we are carrying out continuous operations in this regard,” he said.
Smith said the Metro Police recently launched a house, robbery, vehicle and theft unit.
“They will focus on crowbar gangs which have also become a major problem because they are organised robbery gangs. The unit will be working with neighbourhood watches and the private sector,” he said.
On Saturday the City’s enforcement services assisted police with an operation at the Langa taxi rank, after a shooting incident at the rank last week. The officers stopped and searched 346 vehicles and issued fines to the value of R20 000.
It has been reported that five legal firearms were seized for ballistic testing and processing. And the officers also arrested a 20-year-old suspect for the possession of drugs, after confiscating various quantities of tik, Mandrax, dagga and R1 160.
On Friday morning Metro Police received a tip-off about an armed robbery planned at a house in Milnerton. Dyason said officers followed the suspects onto the N2 and pulled them over in the vicinity of Jakes Gerwel Drive.
“The officers searched the vehicle and recovered a Luger pistol and five rounds of ammunition. Three suspects, all aged 35, were arrested on charges of possession of a prohibited firearm,” Dyason said.