Picture: Some of the items confiscated during operation/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
A total of 172 arrests for various crimes such as dealing in drugs, illegal dealing in liquor, possession of drugs, robbery aggravating, attempted murder, assault GBH, assault common, burglary, theft of/from motor vehicle, malicious damage to property, illicit mining as well as illegal migrants.
Northern Cape police spokesperson, Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said the Detectives traced and arrested 119 wanted suspects in connection with crimes including business robbery, murder, rape, and assault GBH.
“During the execution of the operation, several items were confiscated including liquor, cash, cellular phones, computers, copper cable, counterfeit goods, dangerous weapons, and drugs. Operation Shanela will continue unabated on a weekly basis to address crime trends in identified hotspot areas.
“The Northern Cape SAPS multi-disciplinary high-density operation, termed Operational Shanela continues to address priority crimes in hotspot areas throughout the province,” Ehlers said.
She further said the weekly actions commenced on 12 October until 15 October 2023. Ehlers added that the police joined forces with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), the Traffic Department, the Department of Home Affairs, and the Department of Transport to clamp down on crime throughout the province.
“We have executed a total number of 9116 actions with an emphasis on illegal firearms, murders, damage to essential infrastructure, crimes committed against women and children, house robbery, and housebreaking and aggravating robbery.
“The actions included the searching of persons and vehicles during stop and search actions, high visibility patrols, vehicle checkpoints, roadblocks, tracing of wanted suspects, compliance inspections at liquor outlets, second-hand goods dealers and scrapyards, compliance inspections at firearm dealers, visits to spaza shops and farm visits,” said Ehlers.
Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, encouraged the Provincial and District SAPS Management to reinforce efforts and to continue eradicating crime in the province. Otola also expressed her appreciation towards all officers and members, who contributed towards the success of the operation.
The Guardian 