Picture: Items confiscated during Operation Shanela II/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
29 April 2026 – For the past two weeks, the police in North West in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, conducted successful, comprehensive, high-density Shanela 2 operations aimed at reducing and preventing crime, as well as enhancing community safety across the province.
These efforts resulted in the arrest of 1 482 suspects for various offences, including, amongst others, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, possession of dangerous weapons, dealing in and possession of drugs, possession of illicit cigarettes, robbery, murder, attempted murder, rape, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, burglary, and malicious damage to property.
The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adéle Myburgh said the operation focused on hotspot areas and included compliance inspections at liquor outlets and second-hand goods dealers, tracing of wanted suspects, searches for drugs and stolen property, as well as roadblocks, stop-and-search activities, and increased police visibility. Myburgh said during the operations, nine unlicensed liquor outlets were shut down, while 40 second-hand goods outlets were inspected.
“A total of 130 undocumented persons were detained. Detectives also arrested 585 suspects during tracing operations conducted across the province. Items confiscated during the operation included various drugs, alcohol, ammunition, copper cables, drugs, dagga, tobacco products, and firearms,” she said.
Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo, commended all members involved for their dedication and the successful outcomes achieved during the weekly High-Density Shanela 2 Operations. Naidoo further urged communities to actively continue working closely with the police, because the fight against crime cannot be won by the police alone, but requires active community involvement, where residence take a stand against criminality, report suspicious activities, and partner with law enforcement through the Community Police Forum (CPF) structures to safeguard all neighbourhoods.
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