| Shanela II operations lead to 17 044 suspects arrested including 282 alleged drug dealers, 122 unlicensed firearms seized, 48 stolen vehicles recovered | |
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| Date Published: | 2026/04/13 |
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Media Statement PRETORIA - This week, nationwide Shanela II operations resulted in the arrest of 17 044 suspects that include 2 588 wanted individuals between 06 and 12 April 2026. The South African Police Service (SAPS) continues to tighten its grip on drug related crimes and arrested 282 alleged drug dealers in different parts of the country. 3 461 suspects were arrested for possession of drugs of which 2 043 were apprehended in the Western Cape province. Also, major takedowns include a R2 million drug bust in Cotswold, Gqeberha where a foreign national was arrested for possession of drugs. Also, the Organised Crime Investigation Unit in Gauteng discovered a suspected drug laboratory in Sandton on 12 April 2026, and seized chemicals, equipment and products valued at R1.5 million. Other key arrests include: ▶️ 162 – Murder ▶️ 146 – Rape ▶️ 68 – Armed robberies ▶️ 534 – Possession of dangerous weapons ▶️ 93 – Illegal possession of ammunition ▶️ 1 444 – Assault GBH ▶️ 952 – Driving under the influence of liquor or drugs ▶️ 1 037 – Illegal dealing in liquor ▶️ 1 272 – Illegal immigrants ▶️ 22 – Human trafficking Under confiscations and recoveries: ▶️ 122 unlicensed firearms seized of which 36 handguns were recovered in KZN; ▶️ 3 571 rounds of ammunition seized; ▶️ 48 stolen / hijacked vehicles recovered in the past week; and ▶️ different types of drugs and other illicit goods were also seized during this period Provincial highlights this week: Gauteng: Highway Patrol received information about a vehicle, white Toyota Corolla, allegedly involved in an attempted armed robbery of a guest near a hotel in Sandton on 09 April 2026. The suspects’ vehicle was successfully intercepted following a car chase. One suspect was arrested and police recovered two unlicensed firearms, ammunition and gloves. The team also discovered that the vehicle was hijacked in Daveyton in February 2026. Free State: Twelve suspects were arrested in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District for crimes that include murder, attempted murder, rape, possession of illegal firearms and drug‑related crimes. Six of these suspects are linked to murders across Nketoana, Setsoto, Maluti a Phofung and Phumelela municipalities. Western Cape added weight with arrests in Hout Bay, Khayelitsha, and Mitchell’s Plain, seizing firearms and detaining suspects linked to extortion and a mass shooting. Mpumalanga intensified its fight against violent crime on 10 April in Nelspruit, where the Ehlanzeni Anti‑Hijacking Team apprehended four suspects linked to a courier hijacking incident and recovered illegal firearms. Limpopo advanced its investigation on 11 April 2026 into a high‑profile fraud and unlawful traditional leadership case in Moletjie, resulting in the arrest of five suspects linked to Abram Kgabo Matabola’s claims of kingship. Ends
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