Festive Season Operations Shanela, aimed at reducing crime levels in the province, has led to the arrest of 2 581 suspects.
Operations were conducted through roadblocks, stop-and-searches, compliance inspections at second-hand goods dealers, and compliance at liquor premises in the midst of other actions executed in the five districts of Limpopo from 11 December 2023 until this morning, 18 December 2023.
The arrested suspects are charged with various offences such as murder, attempted murder, sexual offenses, assaults, robberies, possession of unlicensed firearms,
suspected stolen properties, illegal immigrants, and drug-related crimes.
About *877* illegal immigrants were arrested with an additional *63* suspects this morning, on 18 December 2023, at Groblersdal in the Sekhukhune district.
In Vhembe District, police together with SANDF recovered abandoned mining equipment such as generators, compressors, and crowbar during operation at Muchipisi village in Malamulele on Sunday, 17 December 2023.
Meanwhile, in Sekhukhune District, Tinmyne Police nabbed one suspect who was found driving a suspected stolen motor vehicle. Allegedly, the police received a tip-off about the stolen motor vehicle at Mahwelereng policing area.
The suspect was traced and seen coming from the bush while driving the said vehicle. He was immediately arrested for possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle.
247 suspects were arrested for assault with grievous bodily harm and assault common, and 123 suspects for drug related cases across the province.
The team also confiscated 13 firearms, 162 ammunition, 10 stolen/hijacked motor vehicles, 4 596 counterfeit cigarettes sticks, 28 grams of Crystal Meth, and 192 grams of Nyaope drugs, among other items.
The Provincial Commissioner of SAPS Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has praised the members and other stakeholders engaged in the operations.
“I commend each and every one for continuing to take part in providing a secure and safe environment to citizens of this province effortlessly; together, we can do better against crime,” concluded Lieutenant General Hadebe.
Some of the arrested suspects have started to appear before their respective Magistrate’s courts across the province.
Operations are still ongoing.