LIMPOPO – More than 2 200 suspects were arrested and 13 firearms seized during a week-long high-density Operation Shanela across Limpopo.

The operation, conducted from Monday to Sunday, September 7 to 13, involved Saps, other law-enforcement agencies and various stakeholders.

A total of 2 234 suspects were arrested for offences ranging from murder, rape and robbery to drug-related crimes, assault, burglary and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

Key arrests

Among those arrested were:

• 36 for rape
• 139 for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm
• 206 for drug-related offences
• 23 for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition
• 19 for contravening the Domestic Violence Act
• 241 undocumented foreign nationals
• 112 for illegal dealing in liquor
• 101 for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Items seized

Police also seized:

• 13 firearms
• 121 rounds of ammunition
• 40 dangerous weapons, including 38 knives
• More than 244 000 counterfeit cigarette sticks
• About 2.3kg of dagga
• 1.35kg of crystal methamphetamine
• 450g of heroin or Thai white drugs
• 26.8g of CAT
• 8.04g of nyaope

Five stolen or robbed vehicles were also recovered.

Operation activities

The operations included roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints, stop-and-search operations, blue-light patrols, tracing operations, drug and liquor operations and compliance inspections.

Police conducted more than 18 000 vehicle searches, tested 9 188 vehicles and carried out 8 263 stop-and-searches.

A further 101 shebeens were closed, and 2 181 fines were issued for various offences.

Police commissioner welcomes results

Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Jan Scheepers welcomed the results, particularly the recovery of firearms and dangerous weapons, saying these interventions were critical in the fight against violent crime.

Some of the arrested suspects have already appeared before magistrates’ courts across the province.