Lentswe, Klerksdorp - Police arrested 617 suspects during Operation Shanela which was conducted from November 2 till 6. The suspects were amongst others, arrested for rape, murder, assault GBH, malicious damage to property, burglary residential and business premises, theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle, theft out of / from motor vehicle and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Of the 617 arrested suspects, 181 were wanted for contact crimes like murder, attempted murder, rape, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, assault common, house robbery and business robbery. Moreover, 65 undocumented persons were taken in for processing.
“The police held stop and searchs, road blocks, vehicle check points, visited and inspected licensed liquor premises, secondhand goods dealers, traced wanted suspects and others. The operation also resulted in the confiscation of mandrax tablets, four dangerous weapons, three handguns, one rifle, 29 rounds of ammunition, 20 cellular phones, liquor and copper cables,” said Lt-Genl Amanda Funani.
During Operation Shanela, on November 22 in Mahikeng, a 25-year-old man was arrested for being in possession of a suspected stolen vehicle. During this joint intelligence led operation, police followed up on a tip-off about suspects in possession of a suspected stolen vehicle.
They went to his home and a search was conducted. A white Nissan NP 200, which was reported hijacked at Mmabatho in October was seized as well as an empty 9 mm magazine, nine rounds of rifle ammunition and three shotgun ammunition were recovered. The suspect and other suspects, who were arrested during operation Shanela, were expected to appear in different courts around the province.
