A 33-year-old foreign national was arrested in Kimberley on Friday, 10 February, for being in possession of diesel which was allegedly stolen.
According to Lt. Col Sergio Kock, police spokesperson, police members found six drums filled with diesel stashed in the boot of the suspect’s vehicle. Each drum contained 25 litre diesel.
The suspect could not account for the diesel. Approximately worth R10 000, and was arrested for possession of suspected stolen goods.
Kock said the alertness and vigilance of members of the provincial Firearms, Liquor and Second Hand Goods Control (FLASH) office led to the apprehension and arrest of the suspect after they spotted a suspicious Toyota Corolla on the R31 Road between Kimberley and Barkly West.
The police tried flagging down the vehicle, but the driver drove away. Police ensued and managed to stop the vehicle and searched it.
Kock said the suspect will be appearing in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court soon.
- In another unrelated action on Wednesday, 8 January, a team consisting of several role-players acted on verified information of alleged illegal gambling activities at certain tuck shops in the Sol Plaatje Municipal area.
Sgt Timothy Sam, Galeshewe communication officer, said search warrants to raid the identified tuck shops were executed and 11 gambling machines from different tuck shops, as well as coins amounting to R18 896 were seized and confiscated by the police.
Gaopelelwe Motlhabane, a member of the Northern Cape Gambling Board, said the operation was the beginning of ongoing compliance inspections, in accordance with the National Gambling Act.
The Frances Baard District commissioner, Maj. Gen. Johan Bean, commended the role-players for the collective efforts executed in addressing crime. Bean said these kind of illegal gambling activities must be prevented to protect children and other vulnerable persons from harm and exploitation.
As part of the operation, the Department of Home Affairs checked and verified the nationality status of the affected tuck shop owners.
The operation was executed by police stations in Galeshewe, Kagisho and Kimberley, as well as the Crime Intelligence Unit, the Northern Cape Gambling Board and the Department of Home Affairs. The team was led by Brig. Charlotte Makgari of the Frances Baard District.
