A total of 2,731 suspects were arrested for various crimes during three weeks of Operation Shanela 2 operations across the North West, police said.

The high-density operations, conducted from September 28 to October 18, also resulted in the seizure of 21 firearms, various drugs, ammunition and nearly 200kg of copper cables.

According to police spokesperson Colonel Adéle Myburgh, the operation targeted serious and violent crime while strengthening crime prevention across the province.

Among those arrested were suspects linked to murder, attempted murder, assault, drug dealing, illegal liquor dealing and burglaries at businesses and residential properties.

A further 163 suspects were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, while 160 suspected undocumented foreign nationals were taken in for processing by immigration officials.

Police and other law enforcement agencies searched 931 premises, 7,374 people and 3,674 vehicles. Thirty unlicensed liquor outlets were also closed.

Other items confiscated included cellular phones, contraband goods, dangerous weapons, commercial explosives, tobacco products and eight vehicles.

Three suspects were arrested after a cow was allegedly stolen from a farm in Wilgeboom, near Potchefstroom, on Sunday evening, October 11.

The farmer reported the theft the following morning. Information received later that day led members of the Potchefstroom Flying Squad, Tactical Response Team and STES Unit to a vehicle allegedly used in the crime.

The suspects were traced and arrested at different addresses. Police recovered the stolen meat and a Volkswagen Polo allegedly used in the commission of the crime. The cow had already been slaughtered.

Magura Tafadzwa (26), Solomon Ngwenya (29) and Talent Sweet (37) appeared in the Potchefstroom Magistrates’ Court on October 14 on charges of possession of stolen meat and stock theft.

Sweet was granted bail of R1,000, while the other two suspects were remanded in custody. The case was postponed to October 22.

North West Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Arthur Peter Adams welcomed the results of the operations and reiterated that police would continue targeting serious and violent crime through Operation Shanela 2.

Myburgh said police remained committed to working with other law enforcement agencies to make communities safer.

Members of the public were also urged to cooperate with police and report criminal activities.