Police arrested more than 40 suspects and closed illegal liquor outlets during a high-density operation in Clayville, within the Ivory Park policing precinct, on September 26.

The weekend Operation Shanela 2 drive, led by Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, targeted illegal immigration, drugs, drunk driving, illegal liquor trading and other criminal activities as part of a province-wide initiative.

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During the operation, police arrested 23 people for allegedly being in South Africa illegally, while 13 were arrested for alleged possession of drugs. Nine motorists were arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.

Police further impounded a minibus after its engine was allegedly found to have been tampered with, while five liquor outlets were closed for allegedly contravening liquor legislation. Several motorists were also issued fines for various traffic violations during the operation.

The operation brought together members of different law-enforcement agencies and police units, with roadblocks, compliance inspections and increased police visibility forming part of the high-density operation.

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Meanwhile, Gauteng detectives conducting operations across the province arrested a further 677 suspects wanted for various crimes, with police confirming 154 of them were linked to crimes against women and children.

The operation also included a community-engagement component, with members of the Gauteng Provincial Head Office Corporate Communication distributing crime-prevention pamphlets and speaking to residents about safety measures and crime awareness.

The continued deployment of multidisciplinary teams in areas such as Clayville comes as police seek to strengthen crime prevention and enforcement through high-density operations across Gauteng.

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