| 2025/02/10 |
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Media Statement PRETORIA – Through its high-density operations commonly known as OPERATION SHANELA, the South African Police Service (SAPS) arrested 14 795 suspects from the period starting, Monday, 03 February 2025 ending on Sunday, 09 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: ▶️ 2 777 wanted suspects were arrested. These suspects were wanted for various serious and violent crimes such as murder, attempted murder, rape, business and house robberies. ▶ 209 suspects were arrested for murder, majority of these suspects were arrested in KwaZulu-Natal (72), followed by Gauteng (63); ▶️ 111 suspects were arrested for attempted murder; ▶️ 247 suspects were arrested for rape, again KwaZulu-Natal arrested majority of these suspects with 113 arrests; ▶️ 1 880 suspects were arrested for assault GBH during this period; ▶️ 174 drug dealers were arrested in the past week; ▶️ 1 838 suspects were arrested for being in possession of drugs, majority of these suspects were arrested in Western Cape (949); ▶️ 99 suspects were arrested for being in the illegal possession of firearms, majority of these suspects were arrested in KZN (30) and Western Cape (27) ▶️1 285 illegal foreign nationals were also arrested during this period; ▶️ 625 drivers were arrested for drunken driving in the past week, majority of arrests in Gauteng (183); Under recoveries and confiscations, police registered the following successes: ▶️ 108 firearms were confiscated in the past week; ▶️ 1 321 rounds of ammunition were also confiscated; ▶️ 65 hijacked and stolen vehicles were also recovered during this week’s operations. Highlights of major takedowns and other successes include the following: ▶️ Members of the Fezile Dabi District Infrastructure Team in the Free State province apprehended a 46-year-old truck driver transporting suspected stolen copper cables worth over R8 million during a routine vehicle checkpoint (VCP) operation. The suspect was arrested and detained at Sasolburg police station, facing a charge of possession of stolen copper. ▶️ A joint intelligence-driven operation conducted by Visible Policing members in partnership with the Community Policing Forum (CPF) and Rural Safety units led to the arrest of a 35-year-old man for trafficking a large quantity of dagga worth over R15 million . The team intercepted a truck along the R511 Brits road in Northam and arrested the suspect. ▶️ A well-coordinated tactical joint operation carried out by Mopani District Vala Umgodi Task Team, with the support from Tactical Joint Operation Center (TACJOC) Detectives, and Airwing Drone Pilots led to the discovery of an illegal mining processing plant and arrest of four foreign nationals, including two suspected kingpins in Limpopo province on 08 February 2025. ▶️ Police in Mpumalanga arrested 20 security officers for possession of fraudulently acquired firearms competency certificates. ▶ Police in KwaZulu-Natal arrested two suspected hitmen after they allegedly shot and killed a 40-year-old ward councillor and injured his 42-year-old sister in Sundumbili. While performing patrols duties, Public Order Policing members spotted two suspicious men walking along the street. They stopped and searched them and found them in possession of two firearms with serial numbers filed off. Further investigations by the Political Task Team positively linked the two to the murder of the councillor and the attempted murder of his sister. They were also positively linked with the murder of an induna who was shot and killed in Sundumbili on 25 January 2025. ▶️ A joint intelligence- driven operation conducted by Crime Intelligence, Komani K9 Unit and Red Guard Security members led to the arrest of a 55-year-old man suspected drug trafficker with mandrax tablets worth R9 million in Komani on 08 February 2025. The team operationalised information about an Isuzu truck transporting drugs from Gauteng province to East London. They intercepted a truck along the Cathcart road in Komani and discovered 111 bags with 1000 mandarx tablets worth R9 million. The suspect was arrested and charged for possession and dealing in drugs. 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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