Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read
16 May 2025 | 10:00 CAT

The Hawks announced on Thursday that 656 suspects had been arrested in a nationwide crackdown on serious organised crime, corruption, and commercial fraud. (File-photo: GCIS)

In a major breakthrough for South Africa’s crime-fighting efforts, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, has made 656 arrests in the last quarter alone. The arrests, which span a wide range of serious criminal offences, were made between January and March 2025, as part of the elite unit’s quarterly performance targets.

In an interview with Radio Islam International, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebea, head of the Hawks, confirmed the unit also seized 395 firearms and dismantled drug laboratories worth more than R23 million — most of which were operating in Gauteng. “These crimes are not isolated incidents,” Libia said. “We are targeting networks that operate across provinces and even internationally.”

The 656 arrests fall into three core categories: serious organised crime, serious commercial crime, and serious corruption. lebea outlined that the most prevalent organised crimes include cash-in-transit robberies, drug manufacturing and trafficking, crimes against protected species, and state security threats, including terror financing.

In the commercial sphere, suspects were apprehended for large-scale fraud involving fake investments, embezzlement through false invoicing, and fraudulent tender processes. “Some of these individuals manipulated systems using false qualifications and documents, a trend we’re seeing more frequently,” he added.

Perhaps most alarming are the corruption cases, implicating not only police and metro officials but also members of Parliament. “We’ve seen instances where individuals unlawfully obtained firearm certificates or colluded in tender rigging,” said Lebea.

One notable case involved a man impersonating Libia himself, defrauding victims of over R100,000. “Technology played a vital role in tracking and arresting this individual,” Lebea noted, adding that the Hawks’ Digital Forensic Investigation Unit is crucial in unravelling complex cybercrime operations.

While acknowledging that South Africa remains plagued by crime, Libia remains hopeful. “We act swiftly in urgent cases like kidnappings, often arresting suspects within 12 hours,” he said.

The Hawks’ latest results offer a glimpse into the grit behind South Africa’s battle against crime — a war fought not only with force, but with digital precision.

Listen to the full interview on The Dailly Round-Up with Moulana Junaid Kahrsany and Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebea, head of the Hawks here.