By REGINALD KANYANE

The Northern Cape police said Operation Shanela remains intentional and continues to stamp down the authority of the state during weekly disruptive actions. This comes after the arrests of 336 suspects for an array of criminal offences across all five districts in the province.  

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Sergio Kock said they have intensified police operations with specific focus on the reduction of contact and violent crimes in hotspot areas and they have endured multitude of successes.

Kock said actions and police activities executed during the operations, include vehicle check points (VCPs), stop and searches, foot and vehicle patrols, compliance inspections, drugs and other commodities smuggling and tracing operations by detectives.

“More than 44 VCPs and several roadblocks were conducted across the province during which 2643 vehicles and 6369 persons were stopped and searched. A total of 13 731 police actions were executed and included compliance inspections at second-hand dealers, firearm dealers, liquor premises, formal and informal businesses, school visits as well as farms.

“Numerous awareness campaigns focusing on safer schools programmes and campaigns educating the community and youth on safety aspects, were conducted,” he said.

Kock further said the Northern Cape Provincial Community Policing Board, also conducted sessions in Calvinia, Springbok and Upington. He added that the suspects were apprehended for crimes ranging from murder, attempted murder, robbery, assault, stock theft, burglary, theft out of motor vehicle, malicious damage to property and dealing and possession of drugs.

“This includes arrested for dangerous weapons, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, illegal dealing in liquor, illegal immigrants, as well as contravention of the Second Hand Goods Act. Out of 336 total arrests, 148 were wanted suspects, who have been on the run from the police for numerous offences.

“The arrests were executed during tracing operations by detectives in the five districts. Disruptive actions focusing on the illegal trading in liquor resulted in the confiscation of large volumes of alcoholic beverages and numerous dangerous weapons at illegal liquor outlets and other hot spot crime areas. Numerous illegal liquor outlets were closed down during interventions,” said Kock.

Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, reiterated that the police will continue to robustly and vigorously prevent and combat crime. Otola also commended all the law enforcement agencies and external stakeholders, including the CPF structures for their concerted efforts in addressing crime collaboratively in the province.

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