Crime Reporter
More than 560 people were arrested for stock theft and other related cases countrywide during “Operation Eradicate Cattle Rustlers Market Number 1 of 2015” conducted in the last two weeks.

According to police, the operation was targeting cattle rustlers, their markets and other players in the meat industry.

Police Anti-Stock Theft Unit national co-ordinator Senior Assistant Commissioner Bernard Dumbura said during the operation, they arrested 16 cattle rustlers and 559 others for stock theft and related cases.

“We also managed to recover 40 cattle that had been stolen, while 38 butcheries and 27 food outlets were closed countrywide for various offences,” he said.

Snr Asst Comm Dumbura said they will continue to conduct operations and crime awareness campaigns until there was sanity.

During the last four months, nearly 7 000 people were arrested for stock theft and other related cases countrywide.

Last month, nearly 1 000 people were arrested for stock theft and other related cases countrywide in two weeks.

According to police statistics, 39 people were arrested for stock theft, while 947 others were up for related cases under an operation code-named “Nyama Yabvepi” which was launched to curb stock theft.

During the operation, police also recovered 84 cattle and four goats that had been stolen, while 23 butcheries and 10 food outlets were closed during the crackdown.

More than 22 000 people were arrested last year for stock theft and other related cases countrywide.