A total of 444 suspects were arrested during a single week in the Mitchell’s Plain area on the Cape Peninsula in connection with various crimes‚ Western Cape police said on Sunday.

In one incident‚ on Friday‚ police arrested a 50-year-old male and two of his relatives‚ a 30-year-old female and a 16-year-old girl‚ for illegal possession of dagga seized during a raid on suspected drug-dealing den in Hanover Park.

The suspects will appear in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court on Monday.  

A 59-year-old man will also appear in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court on Monday after being nabbed for allegedly making a false burglary claim to police. He falsely claimed that music instruments valued at around R15‚000 had been stolen during a burglary at his church.  

“Police in Mitchell’s Plain Cluster confiscated six firearms and ammunition and arrested seven suspects for the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. The suspects subsequently appeared in a magistrate’s court on charges relating to the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

“Fifty-five Suspects were also arrested on warrants of arrest on various crimes during tracing operations. More suspects also made their appearance in a magistrate’s court after they were arrested on charges relating to assault‚ robbery‚ fraud‚ intimidation‚ drunk driving‚ possession of suspected stolen property‚ housebreaking and theft‚” Western Cape police said.