Lentswe, Klerksdorp - The police in the North West have been very active during the first week of June. Weekly High Density Shanela operations apprehended 851 suspects for a variety of crimes ranging from burglaries at residential and non-residential premises, aggravated robberies, murders, rapes, dealing in and possession of drugs, driving under the influence of liquor, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, illegal possession of explosives, which are used during illegal mining and cash in-transit robberies, among others.
Brig Sabata Mokgwabone, police spokesperson, said the operations led by commissioned officers were conducted between June 2 and 8.
Out of the 851 arrested suspects, 400 were arrested by detectives as wanted suspects. 28 illegal immigrants were arrested and various shebeens (26) were closed and large quantities of liquor were confiscated.
In Klerksdorp, a disruptive illegal mining operation by a multi-disciplinary team at Rocin mine in the area of Wolwerand on June 5, led to the confiscation of illegal mining equipment that, among others, included various explosives, four generators, jack hammers, spades, a welding machine, gas bottles, a water pump, four self-made sifting contraptions commonly referred to as pendukas, and gold bearing material.
