FREE STATE – The Police, as part of Shanela II, arrested more than 1 115 people during a week-long operation across the Free State province.

All five districts took part in the multi-disciplinary operation, which ran from 16 to 22 June. Intelligence-led information guided the operations.

Under contact crimes, police arrested 349 suspects for assault, 47 for attempted murder, nine for robbery and six for murder. Eight suspects were found in unlawful possession of unlicensed firearms, resulting in the confiscation of two pistols and one rifle. For property-related crimes, 41 suspects were arrested for burglary and 53 for malicious damage to property.

Mandrax, dagga, crystal meth and nyaope confiscated.

Drug-related operations led to the arrest of 21 suspects and the confiscation of various drugs, including mandrax, dagga, crystal meth and nyaope.

Detective branches across the five districts executed tracing operations that led to the arrest of 344 wanted suspects, some of whom had outstanding warrants of arrest.

The Department of Home Affairs processed and arrested 138 undocumented foreign nationals. Traffic officials working with police officers at roadblocks fined or arrested 359 people for contraventions of the National Road Traffic Act, while police arrested 45 motorists for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Criminals given a clear message

The provincial commissioner of the Free State, Lieutenant General Thabang Lesia, said the operations send a clear message to criminals.

“These multi-disciplinary operations send a clear and unequivocal message to criminals that there is no safe haven for them in the Free State,” said Lieutenant General Lesia. “The sweeping arrests we are seeing week after week are a direct result of the dedication of our members, our detectives, and our partners in law enforcement. We will continue to aggressively reclaim our communities, remove illegal firearms from our streets, and ensure that those who terrorise law-abiding citizens are put behind bars where they belong.”

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