Pretoria - North West Premier Thandi Modise has commended the police for arresting 16 members of crime syndicates.
The arrests were carried out after a week-long operation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI), also known as the Hawks.
Hawks spokesperson Paul Ramaloko said that during the operation, two Nigerian ringleaders were arrested and drugs valued at more than R40 million, vehicles valued at more than R1.4 million and cash amounting to R186 000 were seized.
“These syndicates were under surveillance for months before they were arrested,” Ramaloko said.
The first syndicate specialised in fictitious tenders, whereby they allegedly instructed victims to pay them in return for being awarded provincial government tenders.
Ramaloko said this syndicate mostly operated in Mmabatho.
“The Hawks arrested nine suspects in Mahikeng on Friday, recovered one vehicle, two laptops and eight cellular phones. Victims in this ring involve prominent persons, who would not want to report their ordeal for the fear of prosecution or embarrassment,” he said.
Approximately 24 victims brought their ordeal to the Hawks.
Ramaloko said that the suspects appeared in the Mahikeng Magistrate’s Court on Friday, and their case was postponed to 14 March for bail application.
He said the syndicate, which is alleged to have conned people out of a little more than R12 million, is to remain in custody and that more arrests are expected.
“Our disappointment is that among those netted is a ring leader, who purports to be a servant of God and who is supposed to be in partnership with us to mobilise communities against crime,” said Premier Modise.
She called on the police to intensify the onslaught against crime. She urged communities to work with police to fight the scourge of drugs. - SAnews.gov.za
