Operation Shanela remains an operational tool to prevent and combat crime in the Northern Cape, with 149 wanted suspects arrested over the course of three days.

According to the Office of the Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), multi-disciplinary intensified disruptive police actions held from 11 to 14 January 2024, had a sharp focus on reducing contact and violent crimes in hotspot areas.

Operation Shanela is the SAPS crime-combating high density operation incepted in May 2023.

The police executed vehicle checkpoints, stop and searches, foot and vehicle patrols, compliance inspections, drugs, and other cross-border commodities smuggling and tracing operations by detectives.

The operation netted a multitude of successes, with 149 wanted suspects traced by detectives across the province during tracing operations.

Meanwhile, 14 roadblocks and 30 vehicle checkpoints to combat transit crimes were conducted in different locations, of which 2 764 vehicles and 6 460 people were
stopped and searched.

The police also conducted compliance inspections at second-hand dealers, liquor premises, scrapyards, recyclers, private security establishments, firearm dealers, formal and informal businesses, farms and mines.

‘The police arrested 92 suspects for various offences that include, murder, assault, robbery, burglary, malicious damage to property, dealing and possession of drugs, possession of dangerous weapons, illegal liquor dealing and 24 undocumented immigrants,’ said the police in a statement on Sunday.

The operation also led to the confiscation of large volumes of alcoholic beverages, cellphones and drugs as well as illicit mining implements and equipment.

The Provincial Commissioner of the Northern Cape, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, indicated that these successes are a result of heightened police visibility.

Source: South African Government News Agency