Operation Shanela: 16,380 arrests as police uncover drug labs and seize R10m mandrax haul

South African police arrested 16,380 suspects in a nationwide crime crackdown over the past week, with operations targeting violent crime, illegal firearms and drug trafficking ahead of the festive season.

The latest phase of Operation Shanela also resulted in the arrest of 169 rape suspects, the seizure of 164 illegal firearms and the discovery of two multimillion-rand drug laboratories.

According to police, 2,165 of those arrested were wanted suspects linked to various crimes.

Police spokesperson Vincent Mukhathi said the operation focused on disrupting criminal networks and removing illegal weapons and drugs from communities through intelligence-led policing.

Rape and murder suspects among those arrested

The crackdown included arrests linked to serious violent crimes, with police reporting the following figures:

• 169 suspects arrested for rape.
• 155 suspects arrested for murder.
• 140 suspects arrested for attempted murder.

Officers also confiscated 164 illegal firearms, 17,277 rounds of ammunition and 760 dangerous weapons during the operations.

Police said the seizures formed part of wider efforts to reduce violent crime and prevent weapons from being used in further offences.

Two multimillion-rand drug laboratories uncovered

Drug-related operations led police to two alleged mandrax manufacturing facilities in Gauteng.

On 6 October, officers uncovered a multimillion-rand mandrax laboratory in Hartbeespoort. A Zimbabwean national and three women were arrested in connection with the discovery.

Two days later, police found another multimillion-rand drug laboratory on a farm in Krugersdorp, where five suspects were arrested. Mandrax and ecstasy tablets were seized during the operation.

The discoveries represent two significant developments in the police crackdown on drug manufacturing and distribution.

R10 million mandrax seizure in Hout Bay

In a separate operation in Hout Bay, police recovered 172,000 mandrax tablets concealed inside a vehicle.

The tablets were reportedly hidden in a secret compartment and valued at approximately R10 million.

Police also reported several other operations during the week, including the recovery of historic ammunition valued at R7 million in De Aar and the seizure of explosives in Limpopo.

Another development was the arrest of a second suspect in connection with the murder of EFF member Monica Dube.

Festive-season policing intensifies

With festive-season operations under way, police say they will maintain a heightened presence in identified crime hotspots.

Mukhathi said intelligence-driven operations would continue targeting wanted suspects, drug traffickers, illegal firearm networks and organised criminal groups.

“These arrests and recoveries demonstrate the SA Police Service’s continued commitment to disrupting criminal networks, tracing wanted suspects, and removing illegal firearms and drugs from circulation through intelligence-led policing and coordinated law enforcement operations nationwide,” he said.

Police have indicated that the operations will continue as authorities seek to prevent crime, enforce the law and maintain public order during the busy festive-season period.

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Source: The Citizen