Lawbreakers across Mpumalanga faced the full force of the law this past weekend as SAPS and law enforcement agencies launched a powerful Operation Shanela II crackdown across the province.

While communities rested, officers worked around the clock, setting up heavy roadblocks, raiding suspected criminal hideouts, tracing wanted suspects, and carrying out high-visibility patrols in crime hotspots.

#sapsMP [OPERATION SHANELA II EXECUTES NEARLY 15 000 ACTIONS, ARRESTS OVER 1 000 SUSPECTS AND RECOVERS FIREARMS, DRUGS AND CONTRABAND IN MPUMALANGA] #SAPS together with law enforcement agencies and stakeholders, conducted #OperationShanela II across Mpumalanga between 18 and 21… pic.twitter.com/hjBolkKMtP

— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) June 22, 2026

Between June 18 and 21, police executed nearly 15 000 actions in one of the province’s biggest coordinated anti-crime operations.

By the end of the four-day blitz, more than 1 000 suspects had been arrested for crimes linked to drugs, violent offenses, illegal migration, illicit mining, liquor offenses, and illegal firearms and ammunition.

Police also recovered and confiscated firearms, ammunition, drugs, liquor, counterfeit goods, contraband items, precious metals, vehicles, and other property connected to criminal activities.

Read more here:Duo to face court after ammunition bust along the N12

Two men arrested with 150 rounds of ammunition near Ogies to appear in court
Read more here: https://t.co/jPllcbiXU8#witbanknews #witbank #ogies pic.twitter.com/vfDTTCTLiS

— WitbankNews (@WitbankN) June 22, 2026

Acting Provincial Commissioner of SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, applauded members and stakeholders for their commitment and teamwork in keeping communities safe and maintaining law and order throughout the province.

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