By BAKANG MOKOTO
More than 400 suspects were arrested for various crimes during Operation Shanela. The intensified police operations commenced on 22 until 28 July 2024.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Sergio Kock said Operation Shanela remains assertive with more boots on the ground for combatting contact crimes, drug dealing, Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) and squeezing the space for criminals to operate.
Kock said numerous police actions and activities were executed during this period, which included vehicle check points (VCPs), stop and searches, foot and vehicle patrols, compliance inspections and tracing operations by detectives.
“During the VCPs and roadblocks conducted across the province, 2621 vehicles and 5457 persons were stopped and searched. Compliance inspections were conducted at second-hand dealers, firearm dealers, liquor premises, formal and informal businesses, mines as well as farms.
“Numerous patrols were executed at shopping complexes, malls and in hotspots to intensify police visibility with 2661 normal and high visibility patrols executed. Suspects were apprehended for crimes ranging from murder, attempted murder, robbery, assault, burglary, theft out of motor vehicle and malicious damage to property,” he said.
Kock further said this includes dealing and possession of drugs, 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 Hands Goods Act.
He added that detectives in the five districts traced 219 daily wanted suspects, who have been evading the police, while 178 persons were arrested for other serious crimes.
“The police actions also resulted in the confiscation of large volumes of alcoholic beverages, drugs and numerous dangerous weapons at illegal shebeens, as well as livestock and suspected stolen property in hot spot crime areas,” said Kock.
Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, extended her gratitude and appreciation to the police, the community and all external role players and law enforcement agencies for their continued collaboration in the execution of disruptive actions in an effort to prevent and combat crime collectively.
The Guardian 