Police in North West are executing Operation Shanela with large degrees of success after a total of 217 suspects were arrested during operations in various parts of the province between Thursday, 29 June and Sunday, 2 July 2023.

On Friday, 30 June 2023, the Provincial Organised Crime Unit, Anti-Gang Unit and Klerksdorp Tactical Response Team (TRT) members operationalised an intelligence regarding illegal drug dealing activities in Ikageng.

“As a result, searches were conducted in Montshiwa Street and Extension 7 individually. In the first search in Montshiwa Street, a 32-year-old man was arrested after a hand bag, driver’s licence, bank card and ID card belonging to a victim of theft of motor vehicle, which was committed last month, was found in his possession,” stated NW police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone.

“At the second address in Extension 7, the members found and confiscated 21 packets of Crystal Meth with estimated street value of R20 000 and four quarters of mandrax tablets worth R200. Thus, two males were arrested,” added Mokgwabone.

All the suspects were expected to appear in the Potchefstroom Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 3 July.

Provincial and Dr Kenneth Kaunda District detectives also arrested a suspect for possession of suspected stolen property. The suspect was positively linked to two burglary businesses which were committed in January and June this year respectively.

In Potchefstroom, a suspect was arrested through forensic leads and linked with two cases of burglary at residential places.  The crimes were committed individually in March 2021 and May 2023.

In another operation by Potchefstroom Police Station and Provincial Office’ support services personnel jointly with Immigration, Provincial and Local Traffic officers resulted in the issuing of 44 fines for Road Traffic Act related offences.  Furthermore, two males were arrested for contravening Section 7(1) of Stock theft Act, 1959 (Act No. 57 of 1959). (Receiving for sale stock produce from person with no known place). That was after the police found a rotten cow carcass in the freezer and the suspects failed to explain where they got it.

During the operation, 10 suspected undocumented persons were taken in for processing by Immigration Officials.

The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena reiterated that the police will continue to decisively deal with criminality in the province.