| 2025/02/24 |
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Media Statement PRETORIA – Through its high-density operations commonly known as OPERATION SHANELA, the South African Police Service (SAPS) arrested 13 233 suspects from the period starting, Monday, 17 February 2025 ending on Sunday, 23 February 2025. Through OPERATION SHANELA, the SAPS continues to take a bold and decisive approach in dealing with crime in the country. These crime fighting activities include tracking operations, roadblocks, high visibility patrols, stop and searches as well as tracing of wanted suspects. All SHANELA operations are led by the Provincial Commissioner of each province. Just this week alone, the following arrests were made: ▶️ 2 246 wanted suspects were arrested. These suspects were wanted for various serious and violent crimes such as murder, attempted murder, rape, business and house robberies. ▶ 154 suspects were arrested for murder, majority of these suspects were arrested in KwaZulu-Natal (51); ▶️ 118 suspects were arrested for attempted murder; ▶️ 2 42 suspects were arrested for rape, again KwaZulu-Natal arrested majority of these suspects with 100 arrests; ▶️ 1 600 suspects were arrested for assault GBH during this period; ▶️ 1 63 drug dealers were arrested in the past week; ▶️ 1 613 suspects were arrested for being in possession of drugs, majority of these suspects were arrested in Western Cape (812); ▶️ 112 suspects were arrested for being in the illegal possession of firearms, majority of these suspects were arrested in KZN (34); ▶️ 930 illegal foreign nationals were also arrested during this period; ▶️ 659 drivers were arrested for drunken driving in the past week, majority of arrests in Gauteng (172); Under recoveries and confiscations, police registered the following successes: ▶️ 113 firearms were confiscated in the past week; ▶️ 3 607 rounds of ammunition were also confiscated; ▶️ 61 hijacked and stolen vehicles were also recovered during this week’s operations. Highlights of major takedowns and other successes include the following: ▶️ Seven armed suspects were fatally shot in a shootout with the members of the National Intervention Unit (NIU) on N2 in Butterworth in the Eastern Cape Province on 20 February 2025. Members operationalised intelligence information about two vehicles transporting firearms from Cofimvaba. Police spotted the vehicles and attempted to stop them, but they sped off. The suspects opened fire at the police who then retaliated. Suspects were fatally shot, and one of their vehicle stuck in the river banks. SAPS K9 Search and Rescue was summoned, and the deceased’s body was retrieved from the river. Four AK-47 rifles and two pistols were seized in the incident. ▶️ Police in KwaZulu-Natal arrested a 35- year- old man after being found in possession of a huge quantity of ammunition and a rifle. Members of eThekwini District Economic Infrastructure Task Team (EITT) executed a search warrant about firearms and ammunition being stored at an outbuilding in Sydenham. The team searched the premises and seized an AR 556 rifle, 39 rifle rounds, 5 rifle magazines, 19 pistol rounds, and 1 pistol magazine. The team also uncovered 2562 R5 rounds, 178 AK 47 rounds, 20 SG rounds, 45 28G rounds, and 42 Buck shots stored at a property in Kwadakhaza. ▶️ Police apprehended two suspects aged between 24 and 36 years for illegal possession of unlicensed firearms in Western Cape. They stopped and searched the suspects’ vehicle and discovered ammunition, including six rifles hidden in a big bag. They were charged for unlawful possession of firearms. ▶️ Police arrested two South African nationals for drug trafficking at OR Tambo International Airport and seized cocaine with an estimated street value of R7.5 million. Police intercepted two drug mules, a male and female, after landing on different flights from Brazil. They are facing charges of drug trafficking. ▶ Gauteng police arrested two armed suspects who attempted to free a suspect en-route to court. A shootout took place where suspects’ vehicle lost control and collided with a drainage hole. Two suspects were arrested, and a third suspect was rearrested at Elsburg, and a pistol was seized in the incident ▶️ Police in Mpumalanga arrested a 49-year-old Somalian foreign national and seized illicit cigarettes worth R3.4 million in Middelburg. Police acted on a tip-off about illicit cigarettes to be transported from Middelburg Traders. They searched Iveco truck and found consignment of illicit cigarettes. Police will continue with their operations by asserting the authority of the state to ensure the safety and security of all South Africans and visitors to the country. Ends
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