Lentswe, Klerksdorp - Last week’s high density operations conducted by the police and other law enforcement authorities in North West, led to the arrest of 828 suspects for various offences. According to Col Adéle Myburgh, police spokesperson, a total of 31 operations were conducted between Tuesday August 6 and Sunday August 11. This included 14 roadblocks, police searched 49 premises, 2006 persons, 1022 vehicles and closed down seven unlicensed liquor premises.
A total of 41 liquor premises were inspected.
She reported that 29 second-hand dealers were inspected and six received notices for non-compliance of the Second Hand Goods Act. Numerous patrols and stop and search actions were also affected.
The suspects were arrested for crimes such as rape, murder, assault, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH), house robberies, malicious damage to property, burglary at residential and business premises, possession and illegal dealing in drugs, theft out of/from motor vehicle and 67 persons were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A total of 102 suspected undocumented persons were taken in for processing by Immigration Officials.
“Of the 828 suspects, 382 were apprehended during detectives suspect raiding operations. During the operations, a variety of drugs, four cell phones, explosives, three firearms, ammunition, liquor, tobacco products, three vehicles and other items were confiscated,’’ she said.
SAPS conduct Operation Shanela activities in conjuction with Traffic Police, Department of Education, Transnet, the Gambling Board, Community Police Forums (CPF’s), private security companies, ESKOM and Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS).
