Tshwane police arrested 964 suspects during the latest round of week-long Operation Shanela efforts carried out throughout the metro.
Three unlicensed firearms were also recovered during the six high-density operations.
Sunday, February 18
The week saw the start of an operation in Mamelodi West. Law enforcement personnel apprehended eight undocumented immigrants and one person for employing them and for being in contravention of the Immigration Act.
Police inspected 14 residential and liquor premises, which resulted in the closure of one outlet for contravention of the Liquor Act and confiscation of 30 000 ml of liquor.
Police also searched 102 people and 21 vehicles.
Monday, February 19
Akasia SAPS and partners conducted an operation in the area, resulting in one drug dealer being arrested and two suspects being arrested for possession of illicit cigarettes when 1 000 such cigarettes were found in their possession.
Two liquor premises were inspected and both were fined for non-compliance with the Liquor Act and 31 080 ml of liquor was confiscated.
Police searched 154 persons and 79 vehicles.
Wednesday, February 21
The operations picked up, with compliance inspections being executed in the Silverton and Boschkop.
Six liquor outlets were inspected and all were closed down, with 329 000 liquor being confiscated.
Two second-hand goods dealers were inspected and were both fined for non-compliance with the Secondhand Goods Act.
Thursday, February 22
Operations resumed within Silverton and Boschkop and entailed high-visibility patrols at crime hotspots, compliance inspections and raids on illegal liquor outlets.
Police arrested 55 undocumented immigrants and two suspects were apprehended for house robbery and a further two for possessing housebreaking implements and suspected stolen property.
Searches of 12 premises were conducted and nine liquor premises were inspected, leading to the closure of two outlets and the seizure of 61 920 ml of liquor and two speakers.
Five people were arrested for possession of drugs when 52 bags of drugs were found in their possession.
The Department of Labour inspected 10 businesses and issued three with contravention notices.
Police issued 260 Aarto infringement notices, totalling R95 850 during a roadblock.
Police also searched 758 individuals and 280 vehicles, with 15 vehicles being tested to ensure they were not stolen, which resulted in the impounding of a VW Golf for investigation due to irregularities found.
Detectives from police stations in the city apprehended 329 suspects wanted for various crimes, including 84 related to gender-based violence (GBV) crimes, three for attempted murder, eight for armed robberies and eight for rape.
One person was arrested for possession of drugs when 86 grams of dagga were found in his possession and another five suspects were arrested for dealing in drugs when 29 bags of crystal meth and 25 bags of dagga were found in their possession.
Friday, February 23
A liquor and second-hand goods compliance operation was conducted by officers from stations in Rietgat and Loate.
Four liquor premises were inspected and all closed down and the owners arrested for contravening the Liquor Act, with 553 025 ml of liquor confiscated.
Two second-hand goods premises were inspected, which resulted in the issuance of fines to the owners for non-compliance with the Second-hand Goods Act.
Three suspects were arrested for drinking in public.
A crime prevention operation was also conducted in Mamelodi-East, where 12 illegal immigrants were arrested and one person for being in possession of illicit cigarettes. Four second-hand goods dealers were inspected.
Police searched 95 persons and 59 vehicles.
“On Friday, liquor totalling 7 585 933 ml of liquor was disposed of by Hammanskraal, Mabopane, Pretoria-West, Sunnyside and Hercules SAPS. This liquor was confiscated due to violations of the Liquor Act,” said Tshwane SAPS spokesperson, Warrant Officer Johan van Dyk.
Saturday, February 24
Operations resumed in Loate and Rietgat.
Police arrested 321 individuals involved in various crimes. Nine motorists were apprehended for driving under the influence of alcohol, and one person for possessing illicit cigarettes when 400 such cigarettes were found in his possession.
Four persons were arrested for dealing drugs when 328 grams of dagga and 12 bags of various other drugs were found in their possession.
Police detained 35 undocumented immigrants, who will be deported once the legal processes have been finalised.
Detective teams arrested 266 suspects on various crimes, which include 83 for GBV crimes, two for attempted murder, three for armed robbery, and one for rape.
Police inspected 13 liquor outlets for compliance, after which 10 were closed down and 2 091 490 ml of liquor and one gambling machine were confiscated.
“One suspect found himself behind bars for possession of an unlicensed firearm after we followed up on information received from the community. A further two unlicensed firearms were recovered through intelligence-driven operations. All confiscated firearms will be sent to forensic laboratories for ballistic tests to determine whether the firearm could have been used in other criminal offences. Van Dyk added.
Police searched 2 087 individuals and 1 399 vehicles during a roadblock, and 76 Aarto infringement notices were issued to the value of R54 650.
Week round-up:
Police searched 3 121 individuals and 1 913 vehicles at roadblocks, resulting in the issuance of 336 Aarto fines totalling R150 000.
They arrested 110 undocumented immigrants and three persons for employing illegal immigrants.
Nine individuals were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, 12 for drinking in public, three for possession of drugs with four bags of dagga and 10 for dealing in drugs when 64 bags of various drugs and 328 dagga were found in their possession.
Five suspects were arrested for having 1 200 illegal cigarettes.
Law enforcement personnel inspected 42 liquor outlets, resulting in 19 closures for non-compliance with the Liquor Act.
In total, 3 096 515 ml of liquor was confiscated and eight second-hand premises were inspected with four fined for non-compliance with the Secondhand Goods Act.
The Department of Labour inspected 10 businesses, with three of them receiving contravention notices.
Additionally, follow-ups are planned at Boschkop, Silverton, Loate and Rietgat Police Stations to address irregularities.
The departments of home affairs, labour, correctional services and community safety, as well as crime prevention wardens, Tracker, Gauteng traffic, local councillors, CPFs, and various SAPS members from different units and stations within the metro were involved in the operations.
All suspects are expected to appear in court in due course.
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