‘Operation Black September’ keeps Police busy

FIVE shebeens had to be shut down, and the Police seized pistols, pangas, pickaxe handles, knives and knobkieries during a Police operation in Windhoek in the early hours of Saturday.

And that was just in the space of four and a half hours. The actions were part of NamPol’s special “zero tolerance for crime” operation, dubbed ‘Operation Black September’.No fewer than five shebeens needed to be closed down between 12h30 and 05h00, while assaults and robberies on the streets kept officers busy.The number of people arrested during the raid could not be confirmed over the weekend, but a number of shebeen patrons found themselves dragged into Police vehicles for obstructing the course of justice, and some even for trying to punch officers attempting to close shebeens during the early morning hours.”The public needs to see what we’re facing,” Police spokesperson Chief Inspector Angula Amulungu told The Namibian during the operation.”We’re doing this in the people’s interest.We’re not just trying to close people’s businesses,” he said.Staff from various Police departments had to be drawn in for the operation, he said, which once again proved the lack of resources at the Police’s disposal.According to Wanaheda Police Station Commander Andreas Nelumbo, around 70 per cent of the unlicensed firearms confiscated by Police were seized at shebeens.The actions were part of NamPol’s special “zero tolerance for crime” operation, dubbed ‘Operation Black September’.No fewer than five shebeens needed to be closed down between 12h30 and 05h00, while assaults and robberies on the streets kept officers busy. The number of people arrested during the raid could not be confirmed over the weekend, but a number of shebeen patrons found themselves dragged into Police vehicles for obstructing the course of justice, and some even for trying to punch officers attempting to close shebeens during the early morning hours.”The public needs to see what we’re facing,” Police spokesperson Chief Inspector Angula Amulungu told The Namibian during the operation.”We’re doing this in the people’s interest.We’re not just trying to close people’s businesses,” he said.Staff from various Police departments had to be drawn in for the operation, he said, which once again proved the lack of resources at the Police’s disposal.According to Wanaheda Police Station Commander Andreas Nelumbo, around 70 per cent of the unlicensed firearms confiscated by Police were seized at shebeens.