PRETORIA The South African Police Service (SAPS) has intensified its nationwide Shanela Operations crackdown against organised criminal networks involved in illicit trade, drug trafficking, illegal immigration and other serious and violent crimes.
These intelligence-led operations conducted between 01 and 07 June 2026 across the country resulting in the arrest of 17 587 suspects including 2 549 wanted individuals linked to serious and violent crimes.
During the same period, 2 399 illegal foreigners were arrested for contravention of the Immigration Act, most of arrests recorded in Gauteng with 959, while KwaZulu-Natal arrested 529.
Police have also conducted operations targeting transitional criminal networks involved in illicit trade including significant seizures of illicit cigarettes across multiple provinces.
On 03 June 2026, police intercepted a suspicious truck and arrested a 35-year-old male suspect for possession of suspected illicit cigarettes worth R7.5 million on the N1 near Vaal Plaza in Free State.
On 05 June 2026, police seized illicit cigarettes worth R3 million and arrested two foreign nationals in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga province.
On 4 June 2026, police arrested a 49-year-old Zimbabwean national after intercepting a Nissan truck carrying illicit tobacco worth R1.5 million along the R518 road in Limpopo.
In addition, police crackdown on illicit liquor trade in the Western Cape has led to the seizure of illegal liquor worth more than R9 million and arrest of three Chinese nationals following a coordinated operation in Paarl, on 4 June 2026.
In the fight against transnational drug syndicates, law enforcement agencies secured a major victory when they seized 90 kilograms of suspected cocaine worth R36 million at the Durban Harbour on 6 June 2026.
OTHER KEY ARRESTS THIS WEEK INCLUDE:
- 1 564 suspects arrested for assault GBH;
- 153 for murder;
- 157 for attempted murder;
- 135 for rape;
- 567 for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
- 196 for dealing in drugs;
- 3 115 for possession of drugs;
- 499 for illegal dealing in liquor; and
- 26 for human trafficking.
- Police also confiscated and recovered:
- 127 unlicensed firearms of various calibres;
- 1 898 rounds of ammunition;
- More than R21 000 000 contraband goods;
- various types of drugs; and
- 59 hijacked and stolen vehicles.
HIGHLIGHTS: PROVINCIAL TAKEDOWNS EXECUTED
EASTERN CAPE: On 2 June 2026, an intelligence-driven operation by the Qonce SAPS K9 Unit task team has resulted in the seizure of drugs valued at R759,300, the recovery of a suspected stolen vehicle, and the arrest of two suspects for dealing in drugs.
GAUTENG: A suspected vehicle hijacker was fatally wounded in a shootout with police in Soshanguve during a targeted police intervention. Police recovered the hijacked vehicle and a 9mm pistol loaded with ammunition at the scene. Investigations are ongoing to trace and apprehend the second suspect who remains at large.
In a separate operation, a joint intelligence-driven operation conducted by SAPS and SANDF led to arrest of two suspects at Mooiplaas Informal Settlement, Erasmia on 06 June 2026. The suspects were linked to a burglary at a military facility in April 2026 where firearms were stolen. Two R4 rifles with ammunition, a replica firearm, and a traffic officer’s uniform were seized.
LIMPOPO: Five suspects aged between 23 and 49 linked to an organised garage safe-bombing syndicate were arrested during a coordinated operation and raid across multiple locations in Limpopo. The apprehend individuals are believed to have played various roles in the planning and execution of the brazen robberies. Two handguns, one shotgun, ammunition, explosives , balaclavas and gloves were seized during the takedowns
MPUMALANGA: A 35-year-old Mozambican national was arrested during Operation Vala Umgodi for the unlawful possession of 10 rounds of ammunition of various calibres at Makheshe Mountain near Agnes Mine Barberton. He was charged with unlawful possession of ammunition and contravention of the Immigration Act. He is expected to appear in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court on 08 June 2026. In another area, police seized 539 rounds of ammunition and two generators that were found abandoned by illegal miners.
NORTHERN CAPE: On 3 June 2026, police intercepted a vehicle on the R360 road between Upington and Askham with two occupants, discovering a large plastic bag containing several smaller bags of dagga and mandrax tablets with the combined estimated street value of over R134 000-00. Both suspects were arrested and charged for dealing in drugs.
FREE STATE: Parkweg Tactical Response Team (TRT) arrested two additional suspects, aged 30 and 36, in connection with R65 000 fraudulent house sale scam in Bloemfontein. This brings the total number of arrests in the case to four.
NORTH WEST: Eight suspects, between the ages of 20 and 48 arrested in possession of suspected stolen cell phone tower batteries worth about R500 000. Police intercepted a suspicious Toyota Quantum, leading to the discovery of four cell phone tower batteries that were concealed inside the vehicle.
WESTERN CAPE: The Western Cape Anti-Kidnapping Task Team successfully rescued a 51-year-old businessman from Summer Greens in Cape Town and arrested nine suspects of ages between 20 and 50 years. The incident occurred when armed suspects entered the house and robbed the victim and other occupants’ cellphones, and substantial amount of cash before abducting the businessman.
KWAZULU-NATAL: Two suspected armed robbers were shot and fatally wounded and one was injured in a shootout with police at KwaMsane, on 2 June 2026. The incident occurred following a high-speed chase on the N12 after an armed robbery in Hluhluwe. Three firearms were seized , and police are still hunting for at least three more suspects who narrowly evaded arrest.
