Cape town: Over 15,000 suspects have been arrested in nationwide Shanela II operations, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said. In a statement on Monday, the police announced that 15,798 individuals were apprehended in police operations involving collaboration with other law enforcement agencies and participating government departments.
According to South African Government News Agency, police apprehended 329 alleged drug dealers and 3,242 suspects for possession of drugs between 27 July and 02 August 2026. Additionally, on Friday, 31 July 2026, a consignment of cocaine valued at an estimated R28 million was confiscated at OR Tambo International Airport. The cargo had arrived on a flight from So Paulo, Brazil, when it was intercepted by police with support from Customs officials and Menzies Aviation operational members.
The operations also led to the seizure of 153 unlicensed firearms, including handguns, shotguns, and rifles, with the majority of handguns recovered in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape. Furthermore, 86 stolen and hijacked vehicles were recovered.
In the Johannesburg central business district, a multi-disciplinary operation led by the National Counterfeit and Illicit Goods Unit resulted in the seizure of counterfeit and illicit goods worth over R5 million. An on-site verification process by Department of Home Affairs officials led to the arrest of eight individuals for contravening the Immigration Act.
In the Eastern Cape, four suspects were arrested for an armed business robbery at a jewellery store in Jeffrey's Bay on 02 August 2026. Concurrently, between 27 and 30 July 2026, the Gauteng Provincial Counterfeit Unit, in collaboration with brand protection representatives and other law enforcement partners, executed a series of search and seizure operations, capturing counterfeit and illicit goods worth over R27 million.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the Mthunzini High Court sentenced five individuals to two life terms and an additional one hundred years for various crimes, including murder and robbery. This sentence was issued following a thorough investigation into a case from 29 November 2022.
In Mpumalanga, a multi-disciplinary operation led by the Middelburg Flying Squad resulted in the arrest of a 40-year-old man and the recovery of a suspected stolen vehicle and mining equipment. This success followed intelligence-led information about a stolen vehicle reported in Witbank.
In the North West, police arrested a 27-year-old Lesotho national, Thabiso Sholo Potsoko, in connection with a fatal mass shooting at a tavern in Kanana. The incident occurred on 30 May 2026, resulting in five deaths and several injuries. The arrest was part of an intelligence-driven operation involving multiple units.
In the Western Cape, Operation Prosper deployments in crime hotspot areas led to the confiscation of various drugs and the arrest of a 39-year-old suspect. Police also searched a dwelling in Khayelitsha, seizing drugs and arresting a 28-year-old suspect.