Operation Shanela hits hard at criminal activities

Members attached to Operation Shanela are making inroads against the illegal possession of firearms and the distribution of drugs in communities in the Western Cape through intelligence driven operations.

On Wednesday, 01 November 2023, the members received information about drugs and firearms at a premises in Alacrity Road, Bayview, Strandfontein. The members approached the identified premises and conducted a search. While executing the search the members found 1180 units heroin, six blenders, a large quantity paracetamol pain tablets, two scales and 2,5 litres of chloroform. A further search of the premises led to the discovery of a rifle. A total of seven suspects between the ages of 25 and 42 were arrested and detained for the possession of drugs and the possession of an unlicensed firearm.

In an unrelated intervention, members of Operation Shanela deployed in Delft to combat gang related shootings, followed up information about drugs that are being sold at a premises in Leiden and searched the premises. A 59-year-old man was arrested for the possession of mandrax tablets. A 21-year-old man was also arrested when he was found in possession of 16 small plastic packets containing cocaine at a premises in Roosendal, Delft.

The suspects will appear in the Mitchell’s Plain and Bellville Magistrates’ Courts respectively once they have been charged.

Furthermore members of Operation Shanela conducted an intelligence driven operation in KTC Gugulethu and arrested a 51-year-old man when they found 20 packets containing dagga, two dagga cigarettes, two parcels dagga and a undisclosed amount of cash in the house. He will appear in the Philippi Magistrate’s Court today.