KwaZulu-Natal police's successful week of arrests in firearms and drug operations
During a week of nationwide police operations, KwaZulu-Natal led the country in arrests for illegal firearms and drug-related crimes.
From 18 to 24 August 2025, the South African Police Service (SAPS) arrested 18 634 suspects, including 3 087 wanted individuals linked to serious and violent crimes such as murder, rape, hijacking, and armed robbery.
In KZN, police secured 32 arrests for illegal possession of firearms, the highest number in the country, followed by the Eastern Cape with 21 and Gauteng with 19. The province also led drug-related offences, with 53 suspects arrested for drug trafficking and distribution, as well as 365 suspects arrested for drug possession.
KZN further ranked third in arrests for driving under the influence, with 155 suspects detained, behind Gauteng (185) and Mpumalanga (184).
The SAPS said the results reflected the impact of targeted intelligence-led operations under the national crime prevention drive. “Police will not be negotiating with criminals, one arrest at a time. Shanela is not just an operation; it’s a declaration that lawlessness will not rule this nation,” said National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola.
Nationally, 131 suspects were arrested for murder, with KZN contributing 35 arrests, the highest tally. Gauteng followed with 27 arrests and the Eastern Cape with 23.
Other arrests across the country included:
- 140 for attempted murder
- 157 for rape
- 1 473 for assault (GBH)
- 1 714 for illegal migration offences
- 722 for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Police also arrested 106 suspects for illegal possession of firearms and 232 suspects for drug trafficking.
During the same period, SAPS confiscated 18 882 units of abalone, 180 firearms, 2 921 rounds of ammunition, and recovered 77 stolen and hijacked vehicles.
Significant operations included the destruction of drugs worth more than R400 million in Gauteng on 21 August and the seizure of 226 firearms from a private security company for contraventions of the Firearms Control Act.