26 arrests in three days: Western Cape police intensify fight against gang crime
South African Police Service has made 26 arrests in a major crackdown on gang-related crime in the Western Cape, seizing firearms, drugs, and a hijacked vehicle as part of Operation Lockdown III.
Image: File
In just three days, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has intensified its fight against gang-related crime in the Western Cape, making 26 arrests across several communities over the past three days.
Members deployed under Operation Lockdown III targeted hotspots including Manenburg, Elsies River, Kensington, Wynberg, Lentegeur, and Delft.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk says the majority of those arrested are known gang members.
Charges against them include possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, possession of a hijacked vehicle, theft out of motor vehicles, discharging firearms in municipal areas, as well as possession and dealing in drugs.
Among those arrested is a wanted individual who escaped lawful custody last month.
"The team operationalised information which led them to the location of the escapee resulting in his re-arrest in Lentegeur. The suspect was initially arrested for a gang related murder," said van Wyk.
In addition to arrests, the multi-disciplinary team seized four unlicensed firearms, ammunition of different calibres, spent cartridges, a hijacked vehicle, drugs, a card machine, state-owned petrol cards, and cash believed to be proceeds of crime between November 2 and 4.
Investigations are ongoing to determine whether these suspects and seized items are linked to other serious crimes.
Operation lockdown III is a national initiative aimed at disrupting drug trafficking, extortion, and violent crimes associated with gangsterism, particularly in the Cape Flats.
The operation brings together the National Intervention Unit (NIU), Anti-Gang Unit (AGU), Public Order Policing (POP), Tactical Response Team (TRT), Visible Policing, Organised Crime detectives, Crime Intelligence, Forensic experts, the K9 Unit, and Mobilisation Support.
SAPS says the operation underscores its commitment to combating gang violence.
"The South African Police Service continues to deal decisively with those involved with gang related crimes in the country," van Wyk said.
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