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Police have through their high density operations commonly known as OPERATION SHANELA arrested 13 949 suspects from the period starting, Monday, 26 August and ending Sunday , 01 September 2024.

Through detectives and crime intelligence tracing operations, roadblocks as well as stop and searches - police have taken a bold and decisive approach in protecting the communities that they serve.

All Shanela operations are led by the Provincial Commissioner of each province.

Just this week alone, the following arrests were made:

4 233 wanted suspects for crimes such as murder, rape, possession of illegal firearms and business robberies were arrested

117 suspects were arrested for Murder

118 suspects were arrested for attempted murder

280 suspects were arrested for rape, 116 of them were arrested in the province of KwaZulu Natal

160 suspects were arrested for being in the illegal possession of firearms

Assault GBH continues to register a large number of arrests with 1463 suspects arrested

442 suspects were arrested for the illegal dealing in liquor, 127 arrests were made in MP while 88 were made in FS and 86 in KZN.

145 drug dealers were arrested during this period

373 were arrested for drunk and driving, 71 were arrested in WC

585 suspects were arrested for being in possession of drugs, 131 of these arrests were made in KZN

22 Car Hijackers were arrested, 9 of them were arrested in GP

82 Illegal miners were arrested, 52 of them were arrested in the Free State

Under recoveries and confiscations, police registered the following successes:

164 firearms were confiscated during operations, 41 handguns were confiscated during police operations in KZN.

2 689 rounds of ammunition were also confiscated.

52 hijacked and stolen vehicles were also recovered during this weeks operations

A highlight of major takedowns include the following:

Four extortionists were fatally wounded during a confrontation with police in Milnerton, Western Cape. Four others are under police guard in hospital. Five firearms were seized at the scene.

Gauteng police arrested a suspect after the discovery of a cloned police vehicle believed to have been used in a spate of truck hijackings and courier vehicle robberies in the Gauteng province.

More than 100 undocumented National were arrested when KZN police conducted a raid in the Durban CBD. 100 rounds of ammunition and R 4.1 million in US dollars (counterfeit money) was seized.

Police will continue with their operations in stamping the authority of the state to ensure the safety and security of all people living in South Africa.

Issued by South African Police Service