Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Nomthetheleli Mene applauded the dedication of police officers in the 8 policing districts in the Eastern Cape for their active participation in various operations aimed at ensuring the safety and security of their communities.
A total of 149 Shanela operations were conducted during the week from 7 August to 12 August 2023 throughout the Eastern Cape. The operations focused on regular stop and searches, roadblocks, vehicle check points, high-visibility patrols, including foot patrols, the tracing of wanted suspects, the confiscation of illegal firearms as well as visits to liquor outlets and taverns.
For the mentioned period a total of 10 firearms were confiscated and 760 people were nabbed for various crimes among those, 24 suspects for murder. Most of the arrests were for contact crimes with assaults leading with 244 arrests.
Motorists were kept in check as 410 vehicle checkpoints (36 were roadblocks) were manned, with 24 motorists nabbed for drunk driving and nearly 10 000 vehicles searched on the Eastern Cape roads.
A total of 1 019 litres of alcohol from 15 unlicensed liquor outlets was seized. Owners were also fined for operating outlets without liquor license, in contravention of the Eastern Cape Liquor Act. Among some of the notable confiscations were 1948 abalone units with several diving equipment seized.
Other successes and confiscations included:
– 35 alleged drug dealers were arrested
-1 203 mandrax tablets
– 47.51 grams of mandrax powder
– 2.3 kilograms of dagga
– 0.042 grams of cocaine
– 0.873 grams of crystal meth
– 0.12 grams of nyaope
– 200 grams of ecstasy powder
Police also clamped down on illegal sale of copper, as over 25 kilograms of copper was seized, and suspects were charged for contravening the Criminal Matters Amendment Act 18 of 2015 or alternatively for possession or suspected stolen property.
Lt Gen Mene reiterated that, “as a result of these endeavours, we have noticed a significant reduction in reported incidents in some areas. The increased police presence and outreach efforts have fostered a sense of trust among community members, contributing to our ongoing crime prevention strategies of Operation Shanela. We will continue with this high density operations, up until we deal decisively with criminals.
Operation Shanela nets 760 suspects in the Eastern Cape https://t.co/3TfYEQqp39#ArriveAlive #TrioCrimes #Operation @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/6H1anxjN68
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) August 14, 2023