Operation Shanela makes over 5 000 arrests in KZN in September
The aim is to tackle areas which have seen an increase in crimes.
KZN police made 5 527 arrests in September as part of Operation Shanela, recovering 105 unlicensed firearms, including eight rifles.
These arrests and recoveries are a culmination of relentless operations conducted by various police units in specified policing precincts.
One of the key objectives of Operation Shanela is to tackle areas which have shown an increase in crime volumes.
Of the arrests made, 1 464 were for contact crimes.
These included 730 cases of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, 85 arrests for murder and 93 for attempted murder. The clampdown on narcotics also yielded results, with 921 individuals taken in for drug-related offences.
In addition, 51 people were arrested for being in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza said those arrested have already appeared in various courts across the province.
He added that the work does not stop there, as investigators are working to establish possible links between the arrests and other crimes. The seized firearms will also undergo ballistic testing to determine if they were used in previous incidents.
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