Ahead of the Easter holiday break, the South African Police Service (SAPS) continues to intensify its fight against crime through the nationwide Shanela operations across multiple provinces which led to the arrest of 16 599 suspects.
“These operations also saw detectives conducting raids and apprehending 2 026 wanted criminals linked to murder, attempted murder, rape, carjacking, illegal possession of firearms, assault GBH, house and business robberies,” the police said in a statement.
The arrests were made between 23 and 29 March 2026.
Among these arrests were five suspected South African female drug mules on Saturday at OR Tambo International Airport with drugs worth more than R5 million concealed in their sneakers, underwear and private parts. The suspects were en route to China via Dubai.
In addition, seven suspects between the ages of 35 and 65 years were arrested in a multi-province operation in Cape Town, Matatiele and Nelspruit, following an extensive investigation into alleged extortion and intimidation targeting long distance bus service operators.
They are facing 125 charges ranging from intimidation, interference with essential infrastructure to extortion, money laundering, managing a criminal enterprise as well contravening elements of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).
The seven suspects appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
In dismantling criminal networks involved in the illegal trade in counterfeit and illicit goods, police and crime-fighting partners seized counterfeit and illicit goods worth R160 million during multiple takedown operations in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and Western Cape.
Other major arrests across the provinces include:
• 129 suspects arrested for murder
• 156 individuals nabbed for murder
• 101 suspects arrested for the illegal possession of firearms
• 868 suspects arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Recoveries:
• 129 unlicensed firearms seized including 11 rifles, eight shotguns and eight homemade weapons
• 1 384 rounds of ammunition
• More than 100 000 litres of alcohol confiscated during the same period
• 47 stolen and hijacked vehicles recovered
-SAnews.gov.za
