Over 900 arrested in Limpopo during Operation Shanela
Limpopo police arrest 926 suspects, seize firearms and shut down unlicensed liquor outlets during Operation Shanela.
LIMPOPO – Police in Limpopo say intensified crime-combatting operations across the province led to the arrest of 926 suspects and the seizure of firearms, drugs and other illegal items during the latest phase of Operation Shanela.
Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the high-density operation was conducted between May 18 and May 24 across all five districts in Limpopo as part of efforts to curb crime.
Among those arrested were suspects linked to serious and violent crimes, including one murder case, one robbery with aggravating circumstances, two residential robberies, six rape cases and one attempted rape case.
Police also arrested 65 suspects for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH), 41 for common assault, 14 for malicious damage to property, three for business burglaries and 10 for residential burglaries.
Other arrests included:
- 400 undocumented migrants
- Six suspects for illegal possession of firearms
- Nine for possession of dangerous weapons
- 24 for possession of drugs
- Two for dealing in drugs
- Five for possession of illegal cigarettes
- 35 for illegal liquor trading
- Two in terms of the Second-Hand Goods Act
- One for possession of precious metals
- Nine for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- 287 for various other offences
Police said several items were confiscated during the operation, including:
- More than 427 000 litres of alcoholic beverages
- Seven firearms and 72 rounds of ammunition
- 28 dangerous weapons
- Approximately 1 356kg of dagga
- Small quantities of crystal meth and nyaope
- Cash, cellphones and a computer
- One dagga plant
- 31 small copper pipes
- More than 2 000 packets of tobacco products
- One vehicle
As part of enforcement activities, police inspected 1 397 liquor premises, 331 second-hand dealers and searched 124 scrapyards.
Authorities also conducted compliance inspections at 7 667 informal businesses, including spaza shops, while 12 748 people and 5 919 vehicles were searched.
Police further confirmed that 72 unlicensed liquor outlets were shut down during the operation.
Some of the arrested suspects have already appeared in their respective Magistrate’s Courts.
