LEAP doubles down on drug arrests
23 September 2024
The City’s enforcement services arrested 293 suspects and issued 67 661 fines this past week. This included Law Enforcement Advancement Programme (LEAP) officers arresting 97 suspects for the possession of illegal drugs. The Public Emergency Communication Centre(PECC) recorded 1 676 incidents over the weekend.
During a routine patrol in Delft on Sunday, 22 September 2024, LEAP officers noticed a suspicious individual in The Hague area. While searching the suspect, officers found a firearm with a tampered serial number. The suspect was arrested and transported to Delft South African Police Service (SAPS).
On the same day, LEAP officers were on patrol in Amandla Road, Nomzamo in Strand when they came across an unknown male tampering with an electrical pole and electrical supply, which belongs to the City of Cape Town. The suspect tried to flee when he saw the officers, but the officers managed to apprehend the suspect. The suspect was taken to Lwandle SAPS where he was charged under the Criminal Matters Amendment Act for tampering with and damaging essential infrastructure.
Law Enforcement officers made 155 arrests and issued 3 596 fines during weekly patrols. LEAP officers accounted for 132 arrests, of which 97 were for the illegal possession of drugs.
In the past week, traffic officers issued 60 605 fines and arrested 84 suspects, of which 70 were for driving under the influence of alcohol, six for reckless and negligent driving and eight for other offences, which included a stolen vehicle, false documentation and assaulting an officer.
Officers also impounded 207 public transport vehicles and executed 1 532 warrants of arrest.
The Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) recorded 1 676 calls this weekend – this included 116 physical assault cases and 39 motor vehicle accidents, of which nine accidents involved pedestrians.
On Friday, 20 September 2024, Metro Police officers were on patrol in Hanover Park when they noticed a suspicious male person. Officers had reason to search the suspect and found a 9mm pistol with the serial number filed off and one 9mm live round in his possession. The 34-year-old suspect was arrested for possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition and was detained at Philippi South African Police Service(SAPS).
During weekly patrols, Metro Police officers arrested 54 suspects and issued 3 460 fines.
'The week-on-week confiscation of illegal firearms and drugs shows that our integrated approach to crime prevention is effective and that enforcement staff act quickly to apprehend criminals. Patrols in the community assist with high visibility and officers often caught criminals in the act, such as tampering with City electrical infrastructure, which is a serious offence. We call on the public to assist our officers with information that will help to get criminals out of the community and off our streets,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
Residents are requested to report suspicious behaviour or criminal activities by phoning the PECC on 021 480 7700 from a cell phone and 107 from a landline.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
