NORTHERN AREAS - OPERATION LOCKDOWN LEADS TO 7 ARRESTS YESTERDAY ACROSS PORT ELIZABETH

Criminals, drug lords and drug dealers in the northern areas (Gelvandale and Bethelsdorp) are feeling the pressure of police operating under Operation Lockdown. In the last 24 hours the intervention team has made several arrests and are succeeding in putting pressure on the criminal element.

On Thursday, 21 April 2016, a 35 year old alleged gang member was arrested with a stolen firearm. Police received information that the suspect was walking in Leith Street with a firearm. The suspect was found in possession of a 9mm Vector pistol with 11 rounds of ammunition. It was later established that the firearm was stolen in Kabega Park in September 2014.  Suspect will appear in court on Monday, 25 April 2016. Since the implementation of Operation Lockdown on 24 March 2016, the team has confiscated 19 firearms and several suspects have been arrested.

Seven arrests were effected yesterday (21 April 2016). The suspects were arrested for murder, attempted murder, housebreaking and theft, possession and dealing in drugs.

The distribution and sale of drugs are major contributory factors to gang violence which inevitably would affect and compromise the security and safety of innocent people within the communities. The SAPS is appreciative that communities are providing information and we encourage them to continue to do so. A clarion call is made to civil society to stand and work together with police so that we can ensure that these criminals have no safe havens.

VIA - saps.gov.za