Cops nab 400 in Easter blitz
2008-03-25 13:32
Johannesburg - Almost 400 people spent Easter weekend in Johannesburg and Hillbrow's holding cells after being arrested for crimes ranging from illegal possession of firearms to drug dealing, Captain Bheki Mavundla said on Tuesday.
One of those arrested in Hillbrow was a Zimbabwean national carrying a Norinco 9mm firearm with eight rounds of ammunition, but without a licence.
He claimed he had borrowed it from a friend, said Mavundla, adding that police planned to arrest the friend for being careless with his firearm.
In other arrests, police confiscated cocaine in rock and powder form, dagga, and arrested people for fraud, theft, street robberies and other crimes.
Mavundla said the operation was aimed at making the Hillbrow, Johannesburg and Joubert Park area safe for residents, tourists and businesses and to flush out muggers.
Those arrested are expected to appear in the Hillbrow and Johannesburg Magistrate's Courts on Tuesday.
- SAPA