Over the previous week, Free State police’s high-density operations have produced noteworthy accomplishments. The operations, which were conducted in the eastern, western, and northern regions of the Free State, took place from February 20 to 22, according to police spokesperson Capt. Ursula Roelofse.
The operations included participation from other district stakeholders as well as police officers from the various specialized units. In the hotspot locations, there were visible, intensive patrols, according to Roelofse.
“The focus areas included inspecting vehicles for signs of theft, stock vehicles, drug and illegal gun possession, roadworthiness issues, and drunk driving.”
In Venterstad on the R58, in Steynsburg on the R56, in Sterkspruit on the R726 and R393 to Thaba Lesoba, and in Maletswai at the Hertzog Bridge on the N6, there were daily roadblocks and vehicle checkpoints.
“Liquor stores, secondhand goods stores, and spaza shops were visited for compliance inspections.”
Numerous People Were Taken into Custody
According to Roelofse, “the tracing teams arrested nine wanted suspects for possession of stolen property, assault, and break-ins and theft.”
During the operations, the following successes were made possible:
• Four warnings were sent to businesses requesting that confiscated food items, glue, condoms, energy drinks, tablets, and cigarettes be removed and disposed of safely. The value of the 30,373 goods that were seized was R10,612,00.
• A total of 620 cars, including those carrying stock, were inspected.
• A total of 80 traffic infractions totaling R77,000 were issued.
• 23 undocumented individuals were located and taken into custody.
Brig Asogran Naidoo, the interim district commissioner, expressed his appreciation to all units, members, and outside role players for their exceptional commitment and dedication throughout the operation.
According to Naidoo, “the professionalism, cooperation, and unceasing efforts were instrumental in ensuring the success of the operations.”
Police House-to-house Raid
The members discovered the kidnapped woman after going to another house. She was saved, and a second suspect, a girl, aged 22, was taken into custody.
The suspects are accused of having illegal access to weapons and ammunition. unlawful drug possession, as well as possession of items thought to have been stolen. Unauthorized possession of wild animals in captivity is now a crime.
After being charged, the two are anticipated to appear in the Khayelitsha Magistrates Court.
3,641 cases of kidnapping were reported in South Africa, according to SAPS statistics. This is during April through June of 2023, the first quarter of 2023–2024.
Read also: 2 Suspects Detained After a Kidnapped Woman is Rescued
Kidnappings are Becoming an Alarming Trend
The shocking picture of kidnapping in the nation was made public by police in October 2023 upon the release of quarterly crime figures. All nine provinces have reports of kidnappings; Gauteng has been the most affected, followed by KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.
The least populous provinces in South Africa, the Northern Cape and Free State, had the lowest number. Thembisa and Vosloorus in Ekurhuleni have been rated as the top kidnapping locations in Gauteng. In Johannesburg, Midrand, Protea (Soweto), and Orange Farm are also included.
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