2024/08/20 |
Media Statement
FREE STATE – Multidisciplinary approach policing and proactive policing yielded positive results through the continuing Operation “Shanela” initiative in the Free State. Roadblocks, intensive patrols on identified hot spots and increased visibility were coupled with detective tracking and tracing operations and intelligence-led information. The number includes suspects arrested for possession of drugs, rape, murder, attempted murder and possession of dangerous weapons. Combating illegal mining also led to the arrest of 161 undocumented people. The police arrested 29 suspects for burglary, 20 for possession of gold-bearing material and 29 for illicit mining. Xhariep District and other districts continue with their efforts to get rid of substance abuse and alcohol abuse. Police also clamped down on stock theft in the province last week. In Villiers, three suspects were arrested after a collaborative operation on a suspicious quantum minibus taxi. The vehicle was tracked and found to have 24 stolen sheep. In Ventersburg, seven men from two vehicles—a silver Audi and a red VW Polo—were arrested after Henneman police and Ventersburg police stopped both vehicles and found them with a shared slaughtered cow in both cars. Other cows were found at the farm near Poul Roux and Senekal. In Bloemspruit, four suspects were arrested after Bloemfontein Flying Squard stopped a white tazz and found sheep in the vehicle. Further information led the members, together with the Bloemfontein Stock Theft Unit, to a house where more stolen sheep were found hidden inside a house. Nine stolen sheep were recovered. Members continue to arrest drug peddlers. In one incident, four suspects aged between 20 and 41 were arrested during the early hours of Wednesday, 14 August 2024. They were busy packaging dagga intended to be distributed for peddling at different identified schools. Dagga worth an estimated R1.5 million was seized. Detective tracing operations as part of the Operation “Shanela” also continued and more than 261 suspects were arrested and 56 drivers were processed for contravention of the Traffic Act. Operations are continuing throughout the province and community members are urged to continue providing information on crimes taking place and to work with police to identify possible suspects.
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