The South African Police Service's (SAPS) Operation Shanela has yielded success as 1614 suspects were arrested for serious, violent and other crimes.

This successful intelligence-driven, high-density patrols and actions, which was conducted from 21 August 2023 to 27 August 2023, was aimed to disrupt criminal activities before and during the weekend which usually threatens the safety of communities within the province.

Of the total arrests (1614), the breakdown includes the following:

- 38 wanted suspects;

- 12 arrests for murder and 20 for attempted murder;

- 86 arrests were made for property related crime such as burglaries and thefts;

- 195 arrest for assaults with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm;

- 290 for common assaults; and

- 314 arrests were affected for an array of other crimes.

Seizures from the same operation include the following:

- 33 firearms;

- 746 rounds of ammunition from different calibres;

- 321 dagga and 11 099 mandrax tablets;

- 1,355 litres of liquor;

- 29.8kg of copper cable; and

- 85 dangerous weapons.

The high density integrated operations comprised various units such as Vispol, Detectives, Crime Intelligence, AGU, POP, Law Enforcement, other specialised units, K9, private security companies and neighbourhood watch structures.

Operations targeted illegal liquor outlets, suspected drug outlets and compliance inspections carried out at licensed liquor outlets.

All the arrested suspects are expected to make their court appearances in different courts once they have been charged.

Source: South African Government News Agency