Operation Shanela in the Northern Cape, conducted from September 2 to 8, led to the arrest of 630 individuals, including 198 suspects for serious crimes, the seizure of drugs, counterfeit goods and cash, and significant vehicle and compliance inspections across the Province.
THE LATEST iteration of Operation Shanela, a weekly multi-disciplinary high-density operation, ran from Monday to Sunday, continuing to tighten the noose on criminal activities in the Northern Cape.
Provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Timothy Sam reported that the operation, focusing on reducing contact and violent crimes in hot-spot areas, led to the arrest of 630 individuals.
The police executed various actions, including vehicle checkpoints (VCs), stop and searches, foot and vehicle patrols, compliance inspections, and efforts to curb drug and commodity smuggling.
During the operation, numerous VCPs and roadblocks were set up across the Province, resulting in the stopping and searching of 3,240 vehicles and 5,784 individuals. Additionally, 12,664 compliance inspections were conducted at second-hand dealers, scrapyards, recyclers, private security firms, firearm dealers, mines, formal and informal businesses and farms.
Sergeant Sam said that the operation yielded significant successes, with 198 suspects arrested for crimes such as murder, attempted murder, assault, malicious damage to property, illegal dealing in liquor, drug-related offences, stock theft, and violations of the Immigration Act.
In Upington, the police arrested two suspects for possession of dagga worth nearly R4 million and, in an unrelated case, confiscated illicit cigarettes valued at over R2 million from a wholesale outlet.
Furthermore, 432 wanted suspects were traced and apprehended for evading court appearances and violating court orders.
The police also seized large quantities of alcoholic beverages, drugs, counterfeit goods, dangerous weapons, a vehicle and cash believed to be proceeds of crime.
Lieutenant-General Koliswa Otola, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to all law enforcement agencies for their collective efforts and actions during this period. She emphasised the importance of collaboration with external partners in the joint fight against crime.
Lieutenant-General Otola also commended the community for their ongoing support and for sharing valuable information with the police, highlighting that such co-operation is crucial in combating and preventing crime effectively.
