Authorities arrested 849 suspects in the North West between Thursday, August 31, and Sunday, September 3, 2023, during Operation Shanela, including 119 undocumented individuals and eight wanted individuals.
As part of the high-density operation, arrests were made for crimes such as drug trafficking, business robbery, murder, attempted murder, rape, sexual assault, assaults, fraud, and burglaries.
Several actions were taken to make the arrests, such as stop and searches, roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints, compliance inspections of licenced liquor premises, second-hand goods dealers, and tracing wanted suspects.
The police also seized 467 litres of liquor, four firearms, 13 rounds of ammunition, 14 cellphones, copper cables, and drugs during the operations.
When the arrested suspects have been charged, they will all appear in different courts.
Previously Operation Shanela made over 900 arrests between Thursday, August 10 and Sunday, August 13, 2023, in the North West Province for various offences including murder, rape, dealing in drugs, possession of drugs, and burglaries at residential and business premises, amongst many other crimes.
As a result of increased police visibility, SAPS's high-density Operation Shanela has progressed in its fight against crime, according to the National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola. As a result of these operations, 109,540 suspects have been arrested as a result of heightened police visibility in various provinces.
IOL