BRITS POS – BRITS - Police apprehended 617 suspects during Operation Shanela which was conducted around Northwest.
The suspects were arrested for rape, murder, assault GBH, malicious damage to property, burglary residential and business premises, theft of a 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 these crimes. A total of 65 undocumented persons were taken in for processing. “The arrests were effected through execution of several actions, which included stop and go searches, road blocks, vehicle check points, visiting and inspecting of licensed liquor premises, second-hand goods dealers and tracing of wanted suspects,” says Lt Col Amanda Funani, SAPS Northwest spokesperson. “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
“During Operation Shanela, conducted on Thursday, 2 November 2023, 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. They immediately went to his home and a search was conducted. Subsequently, a white Nissan NP 200, which was reported hijacked at Mmabatho early October 2023, was seized as well as an empty 9 mm magazine, nine rounds of rifle ammunition and three shotgun ammunition were recovered. The 25-year-old suspect and other suspects, who were arrested during operation Shanela, are expected to appear in different courts around the province,” concludes Funani. The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, congratulated the police for these successes and thanked the members for working hard in keeping suspects behind bars in the province. (Photos: SAPS)
