About 138 people, most of them illegal immigrants, were arrested during an anti-crime operation in Johannesburg on Friday morning, police reported.
Inspector Dennis Adriao said at least 130 of those detained were illegal immigrants. About 30 of these were scanned through a so-called morpho-touch machine and identified as suspects who were sought for various serious crimes — including rape, armed robbery and murder.
One South African was taken in for possession of gold dust.
The operation, which was conducted between midnight and 6am, saw police seize two illegal firearms and ammunition.
About 700g of cocaine, nine cocaine rocks, 13 cocaine bullets and 292 ecstasy tables were confiscated.
Adriao said the operation was conducted at buildings and taverns in Hillbrow, Yeoville and Berea that were suspected of harbouring criminals.
During the joint exercise by South African Police Service detectives from Gauteng, Limpopo, North West and Mpumalanga, officers entered apartment-by-apartment and scanned residents.
”This operation is an ongoing exercise and it will be carried out at other provinces and areas,” Adriao said. — Sapa