One hundred and sixty-one suspects have been arrested in the Northern Cape under the South African Police Service’s Operation Shanela.
The arrests were executed between last Monday and Sunday, 23 July.
The arrests were made during stop and searches, vehicle checkpoints, cordon and searches, high visibility patrols, compliance inspections at liquor outlets, tracing operations by detectives, visits to businesses and second-hand goods dealers.
Teams across the Northern Cape conducted numerous operations, which included 11 roadblocks and 36 vehicle control Points (VCPs), during which 1 981 vehicles and 4 365 persons were searched, with fines being issued for contravention of the law.
These actions were also enhanced by 1 206 high visibility blue light and 1 972 foot patrols throughout the Northern Cape.
In total, 3 109 compliance inspections were conducted at second-hand dealers, scrapyards, shebeens, taverns, liquor outlets, firearm dealers, farms and informal businesses.
On Monday, 17 July, the police followed up on information and found a substantial amount of copper cable stashed next to a power station in Peter Mokaba Street in Kagisho in Galeshewe, while another male was also arrested with copper worth R1 000 in the Kimberley CBD.
Colesburg SAPS members confiscated a large amount of diesel concealed in containers in a Toyota bakkie and the vehicle owner could not account for the goods.
Police in Hopetown also confiscated a substantial amount of tik, mandrax and dagga, while another team seized a large amount of dagga in Galeshewe.
SAPS all over the province made routine visits at ATMs, business premises, national key points, post offices and tuckshops.
Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Koliswa Otola, said SAPS members and external stakeholders will continue with the high density crime prevention operations.