The areas of Brits, Hartbeespoortdam, Hebron and Lethlabile were illuminated with blue lights as the Provincial Shanela Team descended on identified crime hotspots

The areas of Brits, Hartbeespoortdam, Hebron and Lethlabile were illuminated with blue lights as the Provincial Shanela Team descended on identified crime hotspots

February 22, 2026 • Accidents

The Acting Provincial Commissioner of North West, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo, led unannounced #OperationShanela 2 activities on Friday afternoon, 20 February 2026, as part of the continued fight against drugs and serious violent crime in the province.

The areas of Brits, Hartbeespoortdam, Hebron and Lethlabile were illuminated with blue lights as the Provincial Shanela Team descended on identified crime hotspots, conducting targeted raids and compliance inspections.

The operation resulted in the arrest of six foreign national males for possession of suspected illegal substances, including crystal meth, khat and mandrax, with an estimated street value of R31 600.00.

A 39-year-old Nigerian national was arrested in Brits for possession of an unlicensed firearm, a dangerous weapon (knife) and illegal possession of khat.

The remaining suspects, aged between 36 and 48 years and also from Nigeria, together with a 26-year-old Malawian national, were arrested at the Hartbeespoortdam flea market — a major tourist attraction in the province — where they were allegedly selling illegal substances alongside other merchandise.

In a separate incident in Brits, a 23-year-old male was arrested during a raid on a suspected drug den after he was found in possession of mobile card machines for which he could not provide a satisfactory explanation. The suspect was further charged with the use of a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent after a complainant informed police that he had taken her vehicle without permission on the night of Thursday, 19 February 2026, from her residence.

The areas of Brits, Hartbeespoortdam, Hebron and Lethlabile were illuminated with blue lights as the Provincial Shanela Team descended on identified crime hotspotshttps://t.co/Z0YGFksy79 #ArriveAlive #Crime @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/H29IHSa8fP

— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) February 22, 2026