Operation Shanela Results in 1299 Arrests, Significant Seizures in Eastern Cape’s Week-Long Police Action
EASTERN CAPE – A week-long high density operation under the banner of Operation Shanela in Eastern Cape has yielded significant results, as the police maintained their weekly intelligence-led actions.
According to a news release by South African Police Service, the operations conducted from October 16 to 22, 2023, resulted in a total of 1299 arrests. The charges included murder, rape, robberies (both business and residential), theft of motor vehicles, possession of drugs, and illegal possession of firearms, among others. Three hundred and seventy-five (375) wanted suspects were also arrested by detective officers.
Notable Confiscations and Seizures
The items confiscated during the operation were wide-ranging:
294 rounds of ammunition
167 dangerous weapons, including knives and screwdrivers
40 firearms
827 mandrax tablets
In the Nelson Mandela Bay district alone, 27 illegal firearms were confiscated.
Clampdown on Fake Products
Multi-disciplinary, intelligence-driven operations were carried out in the Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Bay metros. In Motherwell, various illegal items including illicit perfumes, mouse traps, skin lightening creams, and sexual enhancing tablets, valued at R5,508,390, were seized. In Gqeberha, seized items included expired food products, counterfeit household items, and fake tobacco products, valued at R8,877,941.
Regulatory Offenses in East London
In East London, three pharmacies were fined for operating without a registered pharmacist while dispensing scheduled drugs and controlled medicines. Confiscations included a wide range of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and counterfeit cigarettes, estimated at R5,784,890 in total value.
Impact on Gang Violence in Sarah Baartman District
Operations in the Sarah Baartman District had a significant impact on curbing emerging gang violence. High visibility policing led to the confiscation of drugs, firearms, and alcohol. Four illegal shebeens were closed, and no crimes were committed while police presence was heightened in hotspot areas.
Specific Arrests and Statements
On October 19, 2023, Public Order Policing members arrested two suspects in Gqeberha for illegal possession of abalone in the Seaview area, confiscating a total of 485 units with an estimated street value of R135,000.
Provincial Commissioner Lt Gen Nomthetheleli Mene expressed confidence in the operation’s success. “Our actions have proved that we are coming down hard against crime as we continue to flush out criminals and confiscate firearms used in serious crimes,” said Lt Gen Mene.