Thirteen people, among them two South Sudanese women, are being held by the police criminal investigation department (CID) in Juba over suspected links to criminal activities in the country’s capital.

The suspects were arrested in separate crackdowns on organised crime in different parts of the city earlier in the week. Among the suspects is national security personnel.

Eight AK47 rifles and a pistol believed to have been used for different crimes such as killing, looting, and terrorising Juba residents were confiscated. Thousands of fake US dollars were among the exhibits obtained, but they have yet to be fully processed.

Murders

The operation was triggered by November’s killings of two civilians and two police officers in Hai Baraka estate, a Juba’s suburb residence. These separate incidents also left one officer wounded.

Investigations have commenced with some of the suspects already confessing to the past crimes.

 The Inspector-General of Police Lt. Gen. Majak Akech said they would be produced in court after the completion of the police investigation.

Speaking to the media at Gudel Two police station, Lt. Gen. Akech, said police would continue with the crackdown to ensure the protection of citizens and their property during the forthcoming festive season.

“I appeal to the citizens of the Republic of South Sudan to continue to cooperate with [police] and report any information on something that affects them in their houses day and night,” said Gen. Akech, Inspector General of Police.

A Toyota Noah Van and Raksha were also confiscated, which, according to the police, would be produced as evidence in the court.

This marked the latest arrest in a series of many others to nab the suspects of the organised crime prowling the Juba streets and causing mayhem.

In early November, 14 suspects were arrested by the National Security in connection with money laundering and robbery.

The suspects were found in possession of fake $ 93.071 000 and SSP 400, 000 as well as uniforms of different organised forces, two cars, Raksha, and motorbikes.

They were yet to be publicly prosecuted, including two Liberians and a Guinea-Bissau national who was rearrested over the same crime after escaping prison in unknown circumstances.

“I was just a middle man who somebody contacted and requested my assistance. Some South Sudanese men have fake dollars, so can you assist them? 

 “I said yes because I needed money, I said yes. I could not stay hungry, so I accepted to wash for them the money,” the Liberian confessed in November before NSS officials in Juba.

However, Lt. Gen. Akech assured the public of the organised forces’ protection before, during, and after the celebration of Christmas.

“The date is coming ahead of us that we are about to celebrate, the Christmas and the New Year, and we assure you that it will be peaceful. Whoever accepts criminality, then we will take action immediately,” he warned.

On Wednesday, the South Sudan National Police Services Spokesperson, Maj. Gen Daniel Justin told The City Review that the security situation in Juba was calm due to the deployment of police forces in different locations. Justin said security had been beefed up in the capital and in states to ensure that no criminal elements would take advantage of the preparations for the festivities to terrorise residents.

Beef up security

“Our assessment is based on the reports we are collecting from different police stations located in Juba and states.” Currently, the criminals’ activities have reduced, but when people are going for Christmas, we need to be very alert, ” Maj. Gen. Justin said.

The police boss said the focal points were public places such as markets and the streets, where unsuspecting members of the public would be vulnerable to thefts.

“We are looking at the marketplaces and residential areas because we have planted cameras around the residential areas where we are having the patrol,” he added.

He said police accessibility for civilians is very easy because there are enough officers and emergency call centres in Juba and Wau.

“We have enough vehicles and if we receive a call, the police will reach the place immediately within five to six minutes in Juba here; the same in Wau,” he said.