By: Xolani Khumalo
Nationwide Shanela operations resulted in the arrest of 17 247 suspects for various criminal offences over the past week.
Among the arrests are 155 suspects for attempted murder and 335 suspects for rape while 53 stolen and hijacked vehicles were recovered.
Police spokesperson Amanda van Wyk says firearms continue to be the weapon of choice in the commission of serious and violent crimes particularly murder.
She says that 123 unlicensed firearms were seized during the operations.
“Amongst those arrested are 196 murder suspects of which 63 were wanted individuals tracked down in different parts of the country. Majority of the suspects were apprehended in Gauteng with 41 arrests, followed by Eastern Cape with 40, 179 suspects arrested for dealing in drugs in the Western Cape,” says van Wyk.
