Operation Shanela: Two illegal shebeens shut down, 76 arrests made

Operation Shanela was again carried out by the police yesterday, May 2, which led to 76 arrests. This time, the operation took place in the Krugersdorp and Muldersdrift policing precincts between 06:00 and 14:00.

According to West Rand District Police spokesperson, Captain Solomon Sibiya, Operation Shanela was led by District Commissioner Brigadier Miranda Theron. This is a multidisciplinary operation that is comprised of six phases, which include roadblocks, searching for illegal mining activities, crime prevention tactics and flash groups.

Relevant law enforcement agencies and social partners who geared up to support the operation included the Department of Home Affairs, Gauteng Community Safety, Gauteng Traffic Police, Gauteng Traffic Wardens, Mogale City Public Safety, local CPF and Western Corridor Community Patrollers.

Of the 76 arrests, detectives arrested 31 suspects through their intensive search and tracing activities. This includes four suspects arrested for murder, 18 assaults, one housebreaking, one possession of an illegal firearm, one theft out of a motor vehicle, one illegal possession of ammunition, two thefts and three malicious intent to damage property.

“Visible police groups, which collaborated with other law enforcement powers, left no stone unturned as they conducted stop and searches, roadblock, raiding of illegal shebeens, tracking down of undocumented persons and illegal mining activities, managed to arrest 45 suspects,” Sibiya said.

These arrests led to the shutting down of two illegal shebeens, where 40.955ml bottles of liquor were confiscated. There were also illicit packets of cigarettes, crystal meth, nayope and gold-bearing materials confiscated.

“I am very pleased with the success of the operation,” Brigadier Theron said.