Operation Shanela has led to the arrest of 967 suspects in the Free State last week.
Provincial police reported that 50 suspects were arrested for drug possession, nine for rape, four for murder, and 14 for attempted murder. Additionally, 28 individuals were detained for possessing dangerous weapons.
The operation also resulted in the arrest of 21 suspects for property crimes, 45 for malicious damage to property, and 107 for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
In Virginia, on June 26, 2024, Crime Intelligence provided information about two suspicious vehicles spotted near petrol stations. This led to the arrest of three suspects after an illegal firearm was found in their vehicle. The second vehicle, a VW Golf, was tracked, leading to the arrest of three occupants and the confiscation of another firearm.
In another incident, a vehicle was traced and stopped, resulting in the arrest of three males after a 9mm firearm was found and confiscated.
In Rouxville, a foreign national was arrested at a roadblock when police found boxes of illicit cigarettes worth an estimated R12 million in his bakkie.
In Springfontein, two males, aged 23 and 25, were arrested by highway patrol on the N1 after dagga worth approximately R1.7 million was found in their bakkie.
In Batho, an illegal foreign national was arrested with an unlicensed firearm after police received information linking him to a group that robbed a tuckshop.
Operation Shanela’s detective tracing efforts also led to over 215 suspects without legal documents being handed over to Home Affairs.
Additionally, 33 people were arrested for driving under the influence, and 253 drivers were fined for violating the Traffic Act.
Operations are ongoing throughout the province, and community members are encouraged to continue providing information on crimes and assisting the police in identifying suspects.
SAnews.gov.za
