More than 300 suspects have been taken into custody following a multi-agency crackdown on serious crime in Soshanguve and Loate on Saturday, September 26.
Tshwane District Commissioner Major General Samuel Thine led the operation, which involved several SAPS units, the Department of Home Affairs, Gauteng Provincial Traffic, Tshwane Metro Police Department and Community Policing Forums.
Police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk said Operation Shanela aimed to address serious and violent crimes, trace wanted suspects and tackle activities contributing to lawlessness.
Tshwane District detectives arrested 249 wanted suspects during targeted tracing operations from Friday evening into the early hours of Saturday.
Among those arrested were three suspects wanted for murder, four for attempted murder, nine for armed robbery and 77 for GBV-related offences.
Van Dyk said police also detained 41 undocumented foreign nationals, who were handed over to immigration officials for further processing, while one person was arrested for allegedly employing an undocumented foreign national in contravention of the Immigration Act.
Illicit liquor and drug trade targeted
Law enforcement officials also conducted compliance inspections at liquor outlets in the two policing precincts.
Of the 27 liquor establishments inspected, 11 were closed for various contraventions, with police confiscating 382l of liquor during the operation. Three second-hand goods dealers were also issued with fines for allegedly failing to comply with the Second-Hand Goods Act.
“Visible policing operations included roadblocks, stop-and-searches and patrols at identified crime hotspots. Officers searched 402 people and 167 vehicles as part of efforts to prevent and detect criminal activity,” said Van Dyk.
Traffic enforcement resulted in 38 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol, with one driver also arrested on a separate charge of possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
A further 98 people were issued with Aarto fines totalling R74 800 for contraventions of the Road Traffic Act.
The operation also targeted the illicit drug trade, leading to the arrest of three suspects after police allegedly found 85 zip-lock bags containing suspected drugs, 5g of cocaine and an undisclosed amount of cash in their possession.
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