NC police crackdown nets 525 suspects
IN A CONCERTED effort to curb contact and violent crimes in identified hot spots, the Northern Cape police launched a week-long, high-density operation.
Known as Operation Shanela, the multi-disciplinary operation ran from Monday, April 15 to Sunday, April 21.
According to provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock, the operation involved a range of disruptive actions, including vehicle checkpoints (VCPs), stop and searches, foot and vehicle patrols, compliance inspections, and efforts to curb the smuggling of drugs and other commodities.
Across the Northern Cape, VCPs and roadblocks resulted in 2,270 vehicles and 4,617 individuals being stopped and searched.
The police also carried out numerous compliance inspections at second-hand dealers, scrapyards, recyclers, private security firms, firearm dealers, formal and informal businesses, farms and mines.
These actions led to the arrest of 382 suspects on charges ranging from murder, attempted murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, malicious damage to property, dealing and possession of drugs, illicit mining, possession of counterfeit goods, possession of suspected stolen stock and illegal dealing in liquor. The latter resulted in the closure of 10 liquor outlets.
In addition to these arrests, detectives traced and arrested 143 wanted suspects who had evaded court appearances and contravened court orders. The operation also saw the confiscation of large volumes of alcoholic beverages and non-ferrous metal items during inspections.
A significant amount of drugs and cash, believed to be the proceeds of drug dealing, were seized during various raids and operations across the Province.
The provincial commissioner of the Northern Cape, Lieutenant-General Koliswa Otola, attributed the success of Operation Shanela to the support of various communities and the multi-disciplinary approach involving several role-players.
She also affirmed the SAPS’s commitment to continue combating unlawful activities and ensuring special care for victims of GBVF.
