Operation Shanela II nets 16,600 suspects: KwaZulu-Natal leads for drunk driving, drug related arrests

Operation Shanela II has led to over 16,600 arrests nationwide, with KwaZulu-Natal emerging as a key player in the fight against crime.

The province recorded the highest number of key arrests during the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) nationwide operation, as intensified crime-fighting efforts between January 12 and 18, 2026. KwaZulu-Natal topped national figures for driving under the influence, drug-related arrests, and featured prominently in violent crime interventions.

The operations, conducted under the Safer Festive Season and Partnership Policing banners, resulted in 16,621 suspects being arrested nationwide, including 2,597 wanted suspects linked to serious and violent crimes. Police also seized contraband worth R3.2 million and removed illegal firearms, drugs, and stolen property from circulation.

In KZN, 320 motorists were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol during the reporting period. The province also accounted for 79 arrests linked to drug dealing and 453 arrests for possession of drugs, placing it among the leading contributors to national drug-related arrests.

In violent crime enforcement, the province recorded 32 arrests for murder-related offences, contributing to the 169 murder suspects arrested nationally. SAPS said these arrests send a clear message that those who take lives will face justice.

One of the most serious incidents in the province occurred on January 16, 2026 in Woodlands, Montclair, south of Durban, where four suspects were shot and fatally wounded during a shootout with police. Seven additional suspects were arrested with injuries sustained during the confrontation, while three firearms were recovered. Police continue to search for at least five suspects who fled the scene.

In a separate operation in Chatsworth, four suspects were arrested in connection with cases of murder and attempted murder following the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old man. A firearm loaded with eight rounds of ammunition was recovered during the operation.

Nationally, Operation Shanela II resulted in the arrest of 154 suspects for rape and seven for attempted rape, 100 suspects for illegal possession of firearms, 334 suspects for drug dealing, and 3,051 suspects for possession of drugs. Police also arrested 76 suspects for aggravated robbery, 1,430 suspects for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and 1,346 suspected illegal migrants.

As part of the operation, police seized 152 firearms, including rifles, shotguns, and homemade weapons. Drug seizures included more than 110,000 units of crystal meth and 5,812 mandrax tablets. A total of 55 stolen vehicles were recovered, more than 20,000 kilograms of stolen copper cable linked to infrastructure sabotage were seized, and 1,475 abalone were confiscated from poaching operations.

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