Saturday, February 8, 2025

Police go for the kill against cattle rustlers

As Botswana Police Service (BPS) closes in on a criminal stock theft syndicate that has been supplying stolen meat throughout the country, scores of Batswana will soon be asking ÔÇô Where’s the beef.

Gaborone and Mahalapye are classified as hot spots for the stolen meat and beef scarcity is expected to hit the capital city very soon.

BPS spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Diphoko Mothube confirmed that law enforcers are on the verge of dismantling  criminal stock syndicates that have been terrorizing cattle owners throughout the country.

“For a very long time the people have being buying dirty meat from butcheries unaware and that has to be stopped” he said.

He said the Kgomo Khuma operation that was launched sometime last year has unearthed and will continue to expose criminals who have been stealing live stock throughout the country.

He said so far the police operation has cut the supply of illegal meat that was sold both in Gaborone and Mahalapye and the surrounding areas at a cheaper rate

“Meat supply will now become scarce in certain areas that are classified as hot spots” he said.

He added that butcheries can brace themselves for random surprise inspections in order to have a clean market.

He said dozens of stock theft suspects are behind bars while others are still on the run.

He explained that police have closed on notorious butcheries in some major villages as well as the capital city that were allegedly involved in buying stolen meat from such syndicates.

The officer revealed that the Central District especially the Shoshong area remained the main supplier of dirty meat to both Gaborone and Mahalapye. For instance, a 1kg of stolen meat was allegedly bought for as little as P9.00.

He appealed to members of the public to assist police with any information of the whereabouts of those who deal with dirty meat

Meanwhile some butchery owners who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity said they bought the meat from their supplier unaware that it was stolen.

One butchery owner said beef scarcity will soon be felt by Gaborone residents in due course as most of the beef suppliers have vanished in to thin air as a result of the police swoop.

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