BOTSHABELO -The ongoing multidisciplinary Police Operation Shanela II has resulted in the discovery of various types of drugs at private residences and on the streets in Botshabelo – to the value of R57 000 combined. In addition, the police have arrested at least five suspected illicit drug dealers.
Lt. Col Thabo Covane, provincial police spokesperson, confirmed those arrested included South Africans, as well as undocumented foreign nationals. He said police members also confiscated cash believed to be the proceeds of trading in illicit drugs in addition to the seizure of drugs including narcotics, Cat and dagga.
Covane said the latest activities, conducted on 17 August, saw members of the Mangaung Metro District Operational Command Centre (DOCC) Crime Combating unit steer Operation Shanela II, targeting illegal firearms and drug trafficking in the Free State.

“Officers were deployed to execute high-visibility tracing operations across multiple identified residential targets where active drug dealing and firearm possession had been established,” he said. In Section A two undocumented foreign nationals, aged 29 and 35, were arrested for dealing in illegal drugs from a rented residence.

“Both suspects were found to be in possession of illicit drugs and were charged with possession of drugs alongside violations of the Immigration Act after failing to produce legal documentation.”

A major seizure was made in Section H3, resulting in the arrest of a 54-year-old man after large quantities of dagga had been found in the residence.
“The police executed a search at a residential address, seizing plastic shopping bags containing dagga prepared for street distribution, alongside an undisclosed sum of cash believed to be proceeds of crime.”
Covane concluded by saying that two suspects, aged 29 and 33, who had been arrested between Section A and the Reahola Shopping Complex, faced charges of drug possession and business robbery. Suspected Botshabelo car hijacker also linked to armed robbery