Operation Shanela nets 1 651 suspects in Limpopo

Police in Limpopo, together with other law enforcement agencies, have arrested 1 651 suspects and recovered seven stolen or hijacked motor vehicles during Operation Kukula (Shanela). The operation was held across the five districts from Monday until Sunday. The Department of Home Affairs and private security companies also formed part of the operation. The suspects were arrested for charges such as murder, attempted murder, robberies, rape, sexual offenses, assaults, burglaries, fraud, theft, malicious damage to property, public drinking, drug-related cases and contravention of the Immigration Act. The operations were conducted through roadblocks, stop and searches, blue light patrols, compliance inspections at liquor premises and second-hand dealers, among other duties. During the operation, 20 suspects were nabbed for transgression of the Domestic Violence Act, 393 suspects for contravention of the Immigration Act and 117 suspects for drug-related crimes. The drugs confiscated were 1552.174 grams of d agga, 1 dagga plant, 4.601 grams of crystal meth and 34 grams of nyaope. Police said they recovered nine firearms, 28 knives, 32 dangerous weapons, 604 162 counterfeit cigarette sticks and 569627.5ml of liquor. Police attended to 549 reports of domestic violence and 281 protection orders were served. Limpopo Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe has commended the teams for working relentlessly and ensuring that the citizens in the province are safe and secured. The suspects have started to appear before various magistrate's courts across the province. Source: South African Government News Agency