Nine wanted criminals were among 150 people arrested in a police operation in nightclubs and taverns in Johannesburg’s Hillbrow district on Thursday night, police said.
Spokesperson Inspector Kriban Naidoo said the nine were wanted for crimes such as robbery, fraud and forgery.
Among those arrested were 115 illegal immigrants who will either be repatriated or have their documents renewed at the discretion of the Department of Home Affairs.
Home-affairs officials and Johannesburg metro police were also present during the operation.
Naidoo said police confiscated 37 sachets of pure heroin, 25 large cocaine ”rocks” and 13 ”very large moon rocks” — also cocaine — as well as 1g of pure, uncut cocaine.
In one club, two people were arrested for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm after they got in a fight and seriously injured each other.
Eight suspected stolen cellphones were recovered and police are trying to trace the owners to discover what crimes were perpetrated to get the phones.
”A lot of people lose their lives for things like that,” said Naidoo.
Two illegal firearms were recovered from the University of the Witwatersrand area and a toy gun was recovered that had been used in an armed robbery.
Police also found tools used in smash-and-grabs. Perpetrators use pieces of spark plugs to smash windows. Naidoo warned women — more vulnerable to this crime — to be more vigilant, especially in the mornings and when leaving work at night.
He emphasised that there is zero tolerance to all facets of criminality in Hillbrow — a densely populated and crime-ridden area of Johannesburg — and said these successes should be an example to potential criminals. — Sapa