North police operation results in more than 380 arrests
During the operation, a person was arrested for illegal gambling and his gambling machine was confiscated.
Police arrested 381 suspects for various offences in Operation Shanela which was conducted on March 27.
The operation led by Major-General Samuel Thine targeted Mabopane and Loate policing precincts.
The primary objectives of the operation included increasing police visibility by deploying more uniformed officers, removing unlicensed firearms, apprehending wanted suspects, and enforcing liquor laws.
Police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk said Tshwane detectives launched the operation with a suspect-tracing initiative during the night, which led to the arrest of 312 individuals for serious crimes.
“Among them were 98 suspects linked to gender-based violence, 20 suspects for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, 1 for murder, 5 for attempted murder, 4 for armed robbery and 7 for rape,” he said.
He said that a roadblock was set up in Mabopane, alongside compliance teams deployed across various precincts.
This resulted in the arrest and detention of 57 undocumented immigrants, who are currently undergoing legal processing for deportation.
Two individuals were apprehended for drug-related offences, after being found in possession of 41 bags containing dagga and an undisclosed amount of cash.
Van Dyk said as the operation gained momentum, 592 individuals and 217 vehicles were searched with 33 vehicles tested to verify if they were stolen, leading to one vehicle being seized for further investigation.
In addition, 206 Aarto infringement notices totalling R89 650 were issued. Three taxis were impounded for violations of the Road Traffic Act by traffic law enforcement agencies.
He said 29 premises and crime hotspots were searched with 19 liquor establishments inspected. Ultimately, six illegal liquor outlets were shut down.
“Liquor was confiscated for non-compliance with the Liquor Act and one individual was arrested for bribery after attempting to bribe a police officer to secure the release of a suspect,” said van Dyk.
He said another suspect was arrested for illegal gambling, and his gambling machine was confiscated.
One suspect was arrested for the illegal possession of ammunition.
Thine commended all role players involved in the operation for their dedication and commitment to fighting crime in the Tshwane district.
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