By BAKANG MOKOTO
20 May 2025- More than 1056 suspects nabbed during Operation Shanela. Out of 1056 arrests, 356 are circulated wanted suspects, who were nabbed after being linked to the committed crimes through forensic DNA leads.
The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said the weekly joint law enforcement operations focusing on enhanced crime prevention and combating, conducted across all five districts between 12 and 18 May 2025, under Operation Shanela. Mokgwabone said this resulted in the arrest of suspects for different crimes and the seizure of copper cables, a variety of drugs, liquor, dangerous weapons and ammunition.
“The operations, which were led by commissioned officers, resulted in the apprehension of 65 illegal migrants who were arrested for contravention of Section 49 of the Immigration Act, 2002.
“The suspects included 161 arrested for assault with the intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) and common, eight for murder and attempted murder, 12 for rape and attempted rape, 26 for burglary business and residential,” he said.
Mokgwabone further said 51 suspects were nabbed for driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, 147 for possession of drugs and 32 for illegal dealing in liquor. He added that, as part of the operations, actions such as vehicle check points (VCPs), stops and searches, foot and vehicle patrols, compliance inspections at second hand dealers, scrapyards, recyclers, private security, firearm dealers, formal and informal businesses and farms were executed.
“In Mahikeng, a crime intelligence-driven operation resulted in the arrest of four suspects in Magogwe, Montshioa Stadt and Setlopo villages on 15 and 16 May 2025, for three separate cases of robbery, assault with intent to do GBH and theft, which were allegedly committed between December 2024 and April 2025.
“In another intelligence-led operation executed by Mahikeng K9, on 16 May 2025, three suspects, including a Nigerian foreign national were arrested for possession and dealing in drugs. The suspects were arrested at Bradford Park taxi rank in the Central Business District (CBD) and Mahikeng dumping Site,” said Mokgwabone.
He said the team confiscated drugs that comprised rock cocaine, crystal meth and khat with an estimated street value of R41 000.
Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, indicated that community leaders, parents and civil society need to work closely with the police in addressing the pandemic of drugs, especially the highly toxic nyaope, which is destroying mostly the youth. Asaneng said it is no longer pure conjecture that more and more of the country’s youth have become not only drug addicts, but also drug mules and slaves of drug dealers who are mostly illegal foreigners.
“These drug peddlers are apparently aided and abetted by technocrats, government officials and residents who allow them to enter the country illegally or with fraudulent papers,” he said.
The Guardian 