Free State Police, through Operation Vala Umgodi, have arrest 195 suspects involved in a wide range of crimes over the past weekend.
The arrests were
made for offences including bribery, possession of drugs, trespassing, possession of illicit cigarettes, contravention of the Immigration Act, possession of gold-bearing material and illicit mining.On Sunday morning, Vala Umgodi operatives, in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs, swooped on Virginia and Meloding.
“During a search of a salon, a 32-year-old female, who is an illegal foreign national, was arrested. Two other individuals were also taken into custody after their documents were verified as fraudulent by Home Affairs personnel,” the South African Police Service (SAPS) said in a statement on Monday.
According to the police, the team proceeded to search sleeping quarters at the back of the complex. In three units occupied by undocumented foreign nationals, drugs, including mandrax, crystal meth and rock, with an estimated street value of R150 000, were discovered.
Three suspects, aged between 24 and 36, including two foreign nationals and one female, were arrested for possession of drugs and contravention of the Immigration Act.
In a separate operation in Meloding, two undocumented foreign nationals were arrested after being found inside tuck shops. All seven suspects arrested in Virginia and Meloding face charges ranging from possession of drugs to contravention of the Immigration Act.
“A proactive team was also deployed to a mine where three undocumented males were observed engaging in illicit mining activities. They were arrested and a quantity of what is believed to be gold-bearing material was seized.
“Furthermore, on 16 August, two teams, VOC 1 and VOC 2 [Venue Operational Centre], conducted disruptive operations in Viljoenskroon and Hoopstad.
“These operations resulted in the arrest of 12 undocumented foreign nationals found at various tuck shops in the two towns. Additionally, a 45-year-old foreign national was arrested after being found in his tuck shop with illicit cigarettes,” the police said.
Also on 16 August, a combat team on patrol in Ventersburg arrested a foreign national on the N1, who was looking for a hitch-hike to Cape Town. A second charge of corruption was added after he attempted to bribe the police with R500.
In another operation on 16 August in Virginia, a team working in collaboration with mine security arrested three suspects, aged between 37 and 28 years. The suspects were found on mine premises engaged in illicit mining activities and were in possession of gold-bearing material and illegal gold processing equipment.
“The multi-disciplinary operations in Lejweleputswa and surrounding municipalities are ongoing. All suspects are expected to appear in their respective magistrates courts soon,” the police said. – SAnews.gov.za
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