| 2025/03/10 |
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Media Statement PRETORIA – Through its high-density operations commonly known as OPERATION SHANELA, the South African Police Service (SAPS) arrested 14 165 suspects from the period starting, Monday, 03 March 2025 ending on Sunday, 09 March 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: ▶️ 1 870 wanted suspects were arrested. These suspects were wanted for various serious and violent crimes such as murder, attempted murder, rape, carjacking, business and house robberies; ▶️ 185 suspects were arrested for murder, majority of these suspects were arrested in KwaZulu-Natal (37); ▶️ 154 suspects were arrested for attempted murder, 72 more arrests than the previous week ▶️ 235 suspects were arrested for rape, 96 of these arrests were made in KwaZulu-Natal; ▶️ 1 513 suspects were arrested for assault GBH during this period; ▶️ 166 drug dealers were arrested, majority of these suspects were arrested in Eastern Cape (43); ▶️ 2 176 suspects were arrested for being in possession of drugs, 650 more arrests than the previous week. Majority of these suspects were arrested in Western Cape (1 237); ▶️ 105 suspects were arrested for being in the illegal possession of firearms; ▶️ 4 suspects were arrested for human trafficking during this period; ▶️ 525 drivers were arrested for drunk and driving in the past week Under recoveries and confiscations, police registered the following successes: ▶️ 155 firearms were confiscated in the past week, 48 more firearms confiscated than the previous week; ▶️ 3 627 rounds of ammunition were confiscated; and ▶️ 50 hijacked and stolen vehicles were also recovered during this week’s operations Highlights of major takedowns and other successes include the following: ▶️ On Friday, 07 March 2025, the National Commissioner for SAPS, General Fannie Masemola presided over a drug destruction process in which R340 million worth of drugs were destroyed, this includes cocaine worth R220 million seized during police operations. ▶️ General Masemola also commended the vigilance and commitment of the Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) and Crime Intelligence officers in the Western Cape following the arrest of two suspects at a storage facility in Bellville, Cape Town. The arrest of the duo, a man and a woman, follows the discovery of 50 000 mandrax tablets and an arms cache including three AK47 rifles and twelve 9mm pistols amongst other firearms; ▶️ A shipment of cocaine worth R6 million was detected and seized at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday, 04 March 2025. The drugs were concealed in boxes disguised as hair products. Preliminary investigation revealed that the shipment was en route to France from Brazil via South Africa; ▶️ Police arrested a 37-year-old suspect for theft and tampering with essential infrastructure; the suspect illegally connected electricity. The team also seized 41 Eskom transformers worth millions in lost revenue during multiple operations carried out in Winterveldt, Erasmia and Diepsloot last week. 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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