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The multidisciplinary Operation Retshepeng conducted in the Apel and Mecklenburg policing areas on 8 August resulted in the arrest of 121 illegal immigrants and seizure of items linked to illegal mining.
Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, Limpopo Provincial Police spokesperson, said additionally, three Lesotho nationals were arrested while four Ethiopian nationals were apprehended and are awaiting asylum processes.
Ledwaba added that the police also disrupted suspected illegal mining activities and seized items including wheelbarrows, buckets, jackhammers, generators, spades, chisels and knives.
The operation targeted illegal immigration, illegal mining, wanted suspects and other criminal activities through roadblocks, stop and searches.
A joint roadblock involving SAPS Provincial and Local Traffic Police and other law enforcement agencies was conducted at Sefateng Mine along the R37 near Tjebeng Village as part of the operation.
A total of 63 vehicles and 133 people were searched. Traffic authorities issued 10 summonses valued at R21 500. The offences related to driving licenses and unlicensed vehicles as well as defective stop lamps.
Detectives also arrested 26 wanted suspects linked to eight cases of assault GBH. Four suspects were arrested for theft, three for common assault, three for malicious damage to property, one for common robbery, one for possession of a dangerous weapon, one for illicit cigarettes, one for business burglary, one for robbery with a weapon, one for stock theft, one for rape and one for sexual assault.
Provincial Commissioner Major General Jan Scheepers applauded the teams for the successes, reaffirming the province’s commitment to sustained high-density operations.
“Hit hard on criminals and squeeze every space. Our communities must be safe,” Scheepers said.
