Crime sweep leaves cells bursting at seams

AFTER 60 days and a total of 363 arrests, the Police’s Operation Black September ended this past weekend, leaving Police cells filled to the brim.

All three Police stations in Windhoek were yesterday reported to be filled past capacity, primarily as a result of the Black September anti-crime operation. In total, Operation Black September should rake in around N$540 000 in fines and admissions of guilt.The Windhoek Police station, with a normal capacity of 120, yesterday held 240 detainees; the Wanaheda Police Station, which was built for 100 trial-awaiting prisoners, held 288.The Katutura Police Station, designed for only 70 detainees, by yesterday morning held 120.Namibian Police Inspector General Sebastian Ndeitunga officially closed Operation Black September yesterday, thanking members of the public for their help in apprehending criminals.Police were assisted in the operation by the Windhoek City Police, the Department of Customs and Excise and the Immigration Department.The confiscation of dangerous weapons and pirated goods, closure of shebeens that operated beyond stipulated hours, and alcohol-related fines once again emerged as the key words of the operation.Eighteen unlicensed firearms had been confiscated while their carriers were arrested, 97 people had been fined for public drinking, and 193 shebeen and nightclub owners were issued with summonses after being found open after legal trading hours.Four shebeen owners were arrested for repeatedly operating after hours.Some of the 403 weapons confiscated during the last two months were found during searches at schools and school hostels, Ndeitunga said.Two people were arrested for being in possession of housebreaking tools “at night and in suspicious circumstances”, the Inspector General said.In a joint operation with Customs and Excise and Immigration officers at the Chinatown complex in Windhoek’s Northern Industrial Area and other Asian shops, 14 000 pirated DVDs, shoes with fake brand names as well as large quantities of potentially harmful blemishing creams were seized.In total, Operation Black September should rake in around N$540 000 in fines and admissions of guilt.The Windhoek Police station, with a normal capacity of 120, yesterday held 240 detainees; the Wanaheda Police Station, which was built for 100 trial-awaiting prisoners, held 288. The Katutura Police Station, designed for only 70 detainees, by yesterday morning held 120.Namibian Police Inspector General Sebastian Ndeitunga officially closed Operation Black September yesterday, thanking members of the public for their help in apprehending criminals.Police were assisted in the operation by the Windhoek City Police, the Department of Customs and Excise and the Immigration Department.The confiscation of dangerous weapons and pirated goods, closure of shebeens that operated beyond stipulated hours, and alcohol-related fines once again emerged as the key words of the operation.Eighteen unlicensed firearms had been confiscated while their carriers were arrested, 97 people had been fined for public drinking, and 193 shebeen and nightclub owners were issued with summonses after being found open after legal trading hours.Four shebeen owners were arrested for repeatedly operating after hours.Some of the 403 weapons confiscated during the last two months were found during searches at schools and school hostels, Ndeitunga said.Two people were arrested for being in possession of housebreaking tools “at night and in suspicious circumstances”, the Inspector General said.In a joint operation with Customs and Excise and Immigration officers at the Chinatown complex in Windhoek’s Northern Industrial Area and other Asian shops, 14 000 pirated DVDs, shoes with fake brand names as well as large quantities of potentially harmful blemishing creams were seized.