During the long weekend, SAPS members continued with crime prevention operations, and with the assistance of specialized units, they have recorded several arrests.

This past weekend, Warrant Officer Dyantyi with his Narcotic dog “Jery” from Khowa K9 Unit together with members attached to Operational Command Centre and Venterstad SAPS embarked on Operation Shanela at Oviston and Venterstad and manage to arrest a 38-year-old suspect at Takalani location in Venterstad for possession and dealing in dagga.

Upon searching his house police found eight 5 litres containers with compressed loose dagga with a weight of 5,502 kg and an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspect was arrested and charged for dealing and possession of drugs.

In a second unrelated case, the Aliwal Stock Theft and Endangered Species unit members followed up on positive information received about a suspicious vehicle in the James Calata area. They acted swiftly with the assistance of Komani (Queenstown) K9 and Stock Theft Unit and spotted the vehicle and apprehended four suspects and recovered 26 sheep to the value of R52 000.00. They were charged for stock theft.

These suspects between the ages of 30 and 54 are appearing at Aliwal North and Burgersdorp Magistrate’s Courts today.

The Joe Gqabi District Commissioner, Major General Lindelwa Vellem, commended the members for the excellent teamwork and successful confiscations and arrests. “We are thankful to the public on sharing information that led to the arrest as stock theft and drugs are our priority in the fight against crime,” she concluded.

Source : South African Police Service