Over 1000 suspects were nabbed in Operation Shanela II in the Free State in the past week, said the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Shanela is aimed at eradicating criminal elements and removing illegal drugs from communities.
“The high-density and multidisciplinary operations conducted throughout the province between 20 July and 26 July 2026 resulted in extensive visibility and enforcement with 14 115 vehicles stopped and searched during targeted stop-and-searches, vehicle checkpoints, and provincial roadblocks,” the police said in a statement on Monday.
A total of 1 457 suspects were arrested.
In addition, approximately 2 784 farm labour compliance inspections were conducted, and 132 formal and informal business compliance checks were completed.
Also, the FLASH (Firearms, Liquor, and Second-Hand Goods) component, alongside stakeholder departments, visited 154 scrapyards.
Coordinated field actions across all five provincial districts resulted in the arrest of suspects for various serious crimes.
The police said 325 individuals were nabbed for assault, 36 for attempted murder, 29 for robbery, and 21 for rape, among others.
When it comes to firearms, 63 suspects were arrested for possession of dangerous weapons. Additionally, 23 suspects were arrested for unlawful possession of ammunition, leading to the recovery of 65 live rounds, while 33 others were nabbed for damage to property.
A total of 90 suspects were arrested for possession of drugs, and six were arrested for drug dealing. Confiscated substances included mandrax, crystal meth, and cocaine.
Following a fatal shooting in Mafora, Mangaung, on Saturday, 25 April 2026, anmeth,ensive intelligence-driven manhunt was launched by a team comprising the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit, Kagisanong Detectives, and Parkweg Detectives.
The team successfully traced and arrested two 30-year-old male suspects at a local tavern in JB Mafora without further incident.
Meanwhile, targeted illegal mining activities in the province have led to the arrest of 15 illegal miners (zama zamas) and the confiscation of gold-bearing material and mining equipment.
Department of Home Affairs or immigration officials processed 134 undocumented foreign nationals, who were handed over to SAPS for further processing and formal detention. –SAnews.gov.za
