Police in KwaZulu-Natal arrested just under 9 000 suspects during the ongoing high density operations dubbed ‘Operation Shanela’ as well as routine police patrols, stop and searches and at strategically set-up vehicle check points during July.

In the process, 332 firearms, inclusive of 273 handguns, 25 rifles,17 shotguns and 17 homemade firearms were recovered in the process.

Of the recovered firearms, 231 of them were taken off the streets during day to day policing, whereas 101 guns were seized when police conducted the recently launched Operation Shanela. A total of 8 940 suspects were nabbed for a variety of criminal activities, 3 334 of them were cornered and surrounded during Operation Shanela.

A total of 2482 suspects were brought to book for contact crimes including murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, carjackings, business and house robberies, as well as rape and other sexual offences.

With kidnapping seemingly raising its ugly head, police operated and arrested 42 suspects for the crime, 251 culprits were bust for burglary at residential places.

Police spokespersn Colonel Robert Netshiunda said alcohol has been identified as one of the major contributors in the commission of crimes, and with that in mind, well-coordinated shebeen raids were conducted and 515 people were arrested for illegal dealing in liquor.

A total of 189 people were arrested after they were found to have transgressed on the Domestic Violence Act. A total number of 1 532 suspects were nabbed for drug-related crimes.

Proactive policing by officers in the province led to the recovery of 17 petrol bombs, 543 knives and 24 machetes.

Some 251 vehicles were recovered after they were either stolen or hijacked. On the stock theft front, 26 cattle,16 goats and four sheep were recovered during the operations.

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