Anti-crime operation nets 400

Almost 400 people were arrested across Nelson Mandela Bay over the past weekend.

The arrests were made by police from three clusters – a total of 21 police station precincts.

Mount Road Cluster spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu said Operation Back-to-Basics Safer Festive Season, launched on Friday, aimed at enhancing police presence.

“Road blocks, stop-and-searches and high-density patrols were conducted,” she said.

“These operations will continue in the build-up to the festive season,” Naidu said.

Over the weekend, 111 people were arrested, with 24 held for drug cases, two for unlawful firearm possession and six for drunk driving.

On Friday night, the Gang Investigation Unit arrested a man, 23, who was wanted for house robbery and attempted murder in separate incidents.

In the Motherwell cluster area, 70 people were arrested. Police spokesman Captain Andre Beetge said three firearms were found in a car and thousands of mandrax tablets confiscated from a house in KwaDwesi.

Uitenhage Cluster police spokeswoman Captain Gerda Swart said 221 people were arrested in that area.

All those detained appeared in the relevant magistrate’s court yesterday or will appear today.