KIMBERLEY – A sweeping crime crackdown in the Northern Cape has seen 240 suspects arrested in a high-impact blitz that stretched across all districts of the province.

Although Easter Weekend operations, under Operation Paseka, wrapped up on Friday, April 25, the momentum continues under the ongoing Operation Shanela.

Northern Cape police spokesperson Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said the intense week-long drive, which ran from Monday, April 21, to Sunday, April 27, unleashed a wave of police activity targeting crime hot spots, unlicensed businesses, and wanted suspects.

Police teams launched a multi-pronged assault on crime, setting up roadblocks, conducting stop-and-search operations, and tracing fugitives. Officers inspected thousands of vehicles and individuals, halting 4,479 cars and stopping and searching 11,453 people at strategic checkpoints across all five districts.

The dragnet snared suspects linked to crimes ranging from burglary, illegal liquor sales, drug dealing and possession, to attempted murder, rape, and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Liquor outlets also came under the microscope, with the police shutting down 25 illegal establishments for non-compliance. Compliance inspections extended to second-hand dealers, farms, scrapyards, and both formal and informal businesses, ensuring no corner of the economy remained untouched by law enforcement efforts.

Officers seized an array of contraband during the operations, including drugs, illegal tobacco products, dangerous weapons, alcohol, and cash.

Beyond enforcement, the police partnered with community policing forums and government departments to host outreach programmes focused on tackling drug and alcohol abuse, particularly among the youth, while promoting general safety in local communities.

Meanwhile, in a show of support for cultural preservation, Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie visited Upington to engage residents on safeguarding Khoisan heritage and language.

The acting provincial commissioner, Major-General Luntu Ngubelanga, commended the strong collaboration between the police, community structures, and government departments, attributing the operation’s success to this united front.

Authorities have vowed that the clampdown on crime will continue in full force as Operation Shanela moves forward.

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Northern Cape crime blitz yields major success with 240 suspects arrested