Benguela – The National Police in Benguela Province recovered seventy-one firearms of multiple calibers in 2023, said the provincial commander of the National Police, commissioner Aristófanes dos Santos.
Speaking during the New Year's greetings ceremony, he said that 374 rounds of ammunition, 57 gun magazines and a shotgun were also recovered.
He revealed that 16 vehicles of different models, 138 motorbikes, 13 grams of crack cocaine, 3,209 kilograms of cannabis and various items of property were also seized during the raids.
Along the same lines, in terms of public security, 6,375 different crimes were recorded during 2023, of which 3,236 were cleared up and 2,893 citizens were arrested, 157 of them are women.
The provincial commander also said that violent crime is a concern, given that during the year under analysis 506 crimes committed with firearms were recorded, resulting in 16 qualified homicides, 26 serious offences against physical integrity, ten threats, one sexual abuse and 438 qualified robberies.
He informed that the province recorded 1,084 road accidents, an increase of 107 compared to 2022, resulting in 249 deaths and 1,376 injured.
Among the most important causes the commissioner highlighted speeding, lack of caution on the part of drivers and pedestrians, as well as driving under the influence of alcohol.
Commissioner Aristófanes dos Santos guaranteed that in 2024 the National Police will increase activities related to the search for information, foot and motorbike patrols, as well as more proactive actions in the area of neighbourhood policing throughout the province.
He also said that one of the challenges is also to increase levels of interaction with citizens, so that they themselves realise the importance of their contribution to the fight against crime.
He pledged to carry out more road prevention awareness campaigns, with the aim of reducing accidents and their consequences and announced that the police will strengthen traffic control, planning and regulation activities in all city streets and along national roads.
The New Year's greetings ceremony was attended by members of the consultative council of the National Police Command and the Interior Ministry Delegation.
CRB/MRA/jmc
