The Northern Cape police, several government departments, Traffic Departments and the Tobacco Industry of South Africa(TISA) had major breakthrough during a tri-lateral cross border crime prevention operation which was recently held in the province.

The operation comprised of interaction between the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape was kicked off on Monday, 30 June 2014 and concluded on 4 July 2014.

“The operation focused on static roadblocks, vehicle control points, dealing in counterfeit products, drugs, firearms, stolen property, liquor outlets, wanted persons, illegal immigrants, stock theft, rural safety and non-ferrous metals” lieutenant Sergio Kock said.

Approximately 1400 vehicles were searched , 297 vehicle roadworthy tests were done and searches were also carried out on people.

“The operation included random visits to licensed liquor outlets, scrap yards, farms and second hand dealers” Kock said.

Successes yielded were as follows:

Abalone bust (worth R9.5 million rand) in Colesberg where two men were arrested.
Illicit tobacco molasses raids saw confiscation of illicit cigarettes and hookah tobacco worth R50 000,00.
Other seizures were 120 litres of alcohol , 1.194 kg of dagga, 6 grams of tik, 49 fraudulent credit cards, 2 firearms and one trailer.

“One person was arrested for bribery,
Eleven foreign nationals arrested for not having proper immigration papers. Five wanted persons were also arrested” he said.

Five other persons arrested for serious crimes committed.
69 persons were issued with traffic fines and 63 others were fined for crimes such as drinking in public, urinating in public, riotous behaviour.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_