By REGINALD KANYANE
More than 1100 suspects were arrested during Operation Shanela that was conducted from 20-26 May 2024. According to the North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said the police, supported by other law enforcement agencies, executed a total of 6 170 actions that included searching of 2 003 persons, 1 569 vehicles, 893 high visible patrols, ten roadblocks and the inspection of 393 liquor outlets and 29 second-hand goods dealers.
Myburgh said the suspects were amongst others, arrested for crimes such as rape, murder, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH), common assault, malicious damage to property, burglary residential and business premises, theft of motor vehicle, theft out of/from motor vehicle, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and many others.
“Of the 1 123 arrested suspects, 413 were arrested during detective suspect raids. Furthermore, 37 undocumented persons were taken in for processing. The operation also resulted in the confiscation of 10 cell phones, copper cable liquor, two vehicles, six unlicensed firearms, 59 rounds of ammunition and a variety of drugs, such as crack cocaine, crystal meth and nyaope.
“In one of the incidents reported in Zeerust on Friday morning, the members of Zeerust Visible Policing, found two men walking next to the N4 road, towards the dumping site, carrying a back-pack,” she said.
Myburgh further said on seeing the police, the pair ran away, but police managed to apprehend one of them. She added that upon searching him, the police found copper cables with an estimated street value of R7000 in the back-pack and immediately arrested him as he could not account for the possession.
“A suspect (39) briefly appeared before the Zeerust Magistrate’s Court today on a charge of possession of suspected stolen property,” said Myburgh.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, congratulated the police officers working together with other law enforcement agencies, including Traffic and Home Affairs to ensure that suspects are brought to book.
TaungDailyNews 