GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Police have had great success with coordinated, large-scale action across the Eden Cluster at the weekend.
Southern Cape police spokesperson Captain Malcolm Pojie said concerted efforts by police and the strategic deployment of integrated forces ensured that 489 suspects were arrested from Friday 4 June to Sunday morning, 6 June at 06:00.
In addition to the arrests, were arrested, 838 people and 192 vehicles were searched and fines to the amount of R3 400 were issued for traffic violations and defective vehicles. In addition, 76 fines to the value of R74 200 were issued for the contravention of the Covid-19 regulations issued according to the Disaster Management Act (DMA).
Of these, 424 were arrested for crimes committed during the mentioned period. The criminal offences ranged from petty offences to contraventions of DMA Covid-19 regulations and other serious crimes. Eighteen of those who were arrested were wanted suspects.
Pojie said the weekend's operations included high visibility patrols in crime-stricken areas, stop-and-search operations with a special focus on drug and liquor outlets, illegal firearms, the tracing of wanted suspects and the confiscation of dangerous weapons.
Most of the arrested suspects were set to appear in the local Magistrate's Court on Monday 7 June.
In addition to the police operations, integrated forces also pounced on nine illegal drug outlets in their respective areas over the weekend and confiscated a considerable, although smaller amount of dagga and Mandrax and arrested several suspects, who were also scheduled to appear in the local Magistrate's Court on Monday.
"All these illegal outlets were closed," he said.
Eden Cluster Commander Major-General Oswald Reddy commended all members for their vigilance in bringing these perpetrators to book.
He emphasised that, although some may deem it insignificant, these police-initiated interventions did indeed prevent the commission of other serious crimes such as murders, robberies, serious assaults, domestic violence and gender-based violent crimes from happening.
He again appealed to the community to to prevent the transmission of the virus by adhering to the Covid-19 protocols, as well as to the curfew that applies from 23:00 to 04:00.
Provincial management has also praised the members for contributing to a safer weekend in the various policing precincts.
'We bring you the latest Knysna, Garden Route news'
