Police found two pistols, a rifle magazine, and 173 rounds of ammunition of various calibre firearms, as well as drugs during an operation in Umbilo in Durban which led to the arrest of nine suspects for extortion among other crimes. Picture: SAPS
Nine suspects alleged to be involved in extortion, murder, armed robberies, and drug-related activities in the eThekwini District were arrested on Tuesday.
KwaZulu-Natal provincial spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said police officers who are members of Operation Vala UMgodi were involved in the arrests.
He said police conducted an intelligence-driven operation, and investigations led them to a residence on Grundel Road in Glenmore, Umbilo.
“The suspects are believed to be involved in extortion, murder, armed robberies, and drug-related activities in the eThekwini District,” he said.
Netshiunda said nine suspects aged between 19 and 40 years were arrested during the operation.
“Police found two pistols, a rifle magazine, and 173 rounds of ammunition of various calibre firearms, as well as drugs,” he said.
The suspects will appear in the Durban Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, 16 October 2023.
Last month, The Mercury reported that extortion has been a problem in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape for well over a decade, affecting various sectors such as the “night-time economy” in Cape Town and the construction and transport industries.
This is according to Gareth Newham, director of the Justice and Violence Prevention Programme at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS).
He said if the criminal justice and intelligence sectors had been operating effectively, they would already have the systems to identify and disrupt extortion networks wherever they emerge.
“The situation is now out of control and affects a vast section of the country’s economy, driving up costs, contributing to unemployment, and hindering both international investment and domestic economic development,” he said. Newham stated that once extortion becomes entrenched, international experience shows it is difficult to uproot.
He emphasised that the government needs to have a clear strategic plan that consists of preventative measures to build resilience in sectors or areas where extortion does not yet exist while strengthening law-enforcement measures in areas and for sectors where it does exist.
“Importantly, there is a need for a clear plan of action to strengthen the SAPS Crime Intelligence Division. This needs to be guided by a detailed performance and integrity audit of all those working in the SAPS Crime Intelligence Division, with a key objective to remove all corrupt elements,” said Newham.
In another report by “The Mercury”, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu told MPs that they were pinning their hopes on crime intelligence’s increased capacity to help curb the spread of extortion-related crimes.
The Mercury