Police in the Free State have arrested more than 1 100 suspects during high-density Operation Shanela.
The seven-day report on Operation Shanela is to highlight the key successes obtained by men and women in blue working together with their communities.
Community participation in the fight against crime continues to bear good results, as 77 people were arrested for drug-related crimes, which led to drugs such as mandrax, nyaope, cocaine, and dagga being confiscated. One rifle and eight handguns were confiscated after five suspects were arrested for illegal possession of firearms. About 30 people were arrested for malicious damage to property while 24 suspects were arrested for burglaries.
Contact crimes, as one of the most common crimes in our province, prompted members to intensify stop and search actions. Their actions resulted in the arrest of 160 for assaults and through stop and search operations, 59 suspects were brought to book for possession of dangerous weapons and 74 undocumented persons were arrested.
Gender-based violence incidents are a thorn in the flesh and our detectives were also hard at work as 429 people who were on their radar were traced and arrested. A total of five suspects were arrested for rape and one was taken in for attempted rape.
Multi-disciplinary roadblocks were held throughout the province and 61 drivers were arrested for driving while under the influence of liquor. A total of 144 others were arrested for contravention of the Traffic Act.
The Free State Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant Generla Baile Motswenyane, said community involvement in the fight against crime is assisting in dealing with stubborn crimes. “We value all information received, no matter how small you might think that is, says Lt Gen Motswenyane.
