Concerted efforts to deal with the crime of extortion (protection money) that has gripped a number of communities in Western Cape, is beginning to yield results with the retrieval of a large sum of money and the arrest of three suspects in an operation in Botrivier in the Overberg on Thursday evening, 18 March 2021.
The covert operation comprising of Overberg detectives, visible police members, and crime intelligence, as well as the Overberg Anti Gang Unit, acted upon information about a local businessman who was extorted of an amount of R300 000, saw the forces pouncing on the suspects, and retrieving the cash, cellphones, two vehicles and a significant number of 3G as well as bank cards. The assistance of officials from the local municipality and neighborhood watch members with cutting-edge technology added much-needed value to the operation.
The three suspects aged 50, 39, and 29 were arrested and will appear in court on Tuesday, 23 March 2021 in Caledon on charges of extortion. The suspects are from Delft, Khayelitsha, and Eerste River.
Further investigations will determine if they are linked to other cases.
The arrests have been lauded as a step in the right direction in integrated efforts to deal decisively with the crime of extortion.