The police have praised the continued commitment of police officers across the country following a week of intensified operations that resulted in more than 14 000 arrests and the recovery of 155 illegal firearms.

According to a statement released by the police, a total of 14 165 suspects were arrested nationwide over the past seven days as police intensified efforts to combat serious and violent crime. During the same period, officers also recovered 50 hijacked and stolen vehicles.

National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola commended police members for what he described as relentless work to assert the authority of the state and improve public safety.

One of the most notable successes was recorded by the SAPS anti-kidnapping task team, which rescued an Ethiopian businessman who had been kidnapped outside a restaurant in Norwood, in March last year.

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Police said a multidisciplinary team, led by the anti-kidnapping task team and supported by various police units and private security, traced the victim to a house in Kensington on Tuesday, January 6.

A shoot-out ensued when officers moved in, resulting in one suspected kidnapper being fatally wounded, while five others were arrested.

Four illegal firearms, including an AK-47 rifle, were recovered during the operation. Police also seized vehicles believed to have been used in the commission of the crime, as well as some of the victim’s belongings, including luxury watches and jewellery.

Police provided a breakdown of the firearms seized during operations conducted over the past week. These included 112 handguns, 25 rifles, 13 shotguns and five homemade firearms.

The Western Cape accounted for the highest number of handgun recoveries, with 38 illegal firearms confiscated in the province.

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In addition to arrests and firearm seizures, SAPS highlighted progress in the fight against drug trafficking. Just last week, police destroyed drugs worth an estimated R340m in Cape Town. Over the past three years, the police have destroyed drugs with a combined value of R5.2b.

Police reiterated that its officers remain committed to sustained operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks and ensuring safer communities across South Africa.