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Ten gang members were granted bail in the Port Elizabeth magistrates court on Friday on charges of dealing in drugs and the contravention of Section 9 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. Security was tight for their appearance.
Six other suspected gangsters, Esomadie Uzothuko, Krishna Naidoo, Faizel Bloemstein, Mark Louw, Waheed Ellie and Armien Potgieter will appear in court next week for a formal bail application.
A total of 18 gangsters were arrested earlier this week during Operation Graffiti, which was conducted after intelligence was gathered for several months surrounding the activities of gangs in the city's northern areas.
Eastern Cape Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Celiwe Binta says those arrested are associated with three notorious gangs in the area.
The remaining two suspects will make their first appearance on Monday.