Operation Shanela nets 277 suspects around Ekurhuleni

A total of 277 suspects were nabbed for committing various crimes in Ekurhuleni District during Operation Shanela this festive season between December 22 and 26.

Teams comprising of SAPS, EMPD, Gauteng Traffic, crime prevention wardens, Home Affairs, CPF and other stakeholders worked together to effect arrests.

A total of 179 were arrested by the detectives who conducted suspect tracing operations on December 23. Among the suspects, 112 were arrested for contact crimes, 23 for contact-related crimes and 35 for gender-based violence.

Brackendowns
Members of Crime Prevention arrested a 47-year-old male driver for failing to produce a firearm licence after a 38 special Rossi with five live ammunition was found in the back seat of the vehicle.

The firearm was tested and preliminary investigations revealed that it was stolen in Bramley in December 2003.
The driver was arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm while two passengers were found with drugs.

Tokoza
On December 23, members of Crime Prevention were patrolling around Tokoza Hostel along Serena Street and noticed a suspicious-looking black male walking with an object protruding from his waist. Upon searching him they found an unlicensed firearm with live ammunition.

The suspect was arrested. Five illegal liquor outlets were shut down, 47 traffic fines were issued to the value of R1 705 and two unlicensed firearms were removed from the streets during the operation.

ALSO CHECK: Police remove illegal firearms from the hands of criminals

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