KwaZulu-Natal police made significant strides in combating crime during a series of operations in March, resulting in the arrest of nearly 12,000 alleged criminals.
Provincial police spokesperson, Robert Netshiunda, reported that the highest number of arrests were related to contact crimes such as murder, attempted murder, and robbery, with over 3,800 suspects taken into custody. Additionally, more than 2,700 individuals were arrested for various assault-related charges.
The operations also led to the recovery of 341 firearms and over 3,000 rounds of ammunition. On drug-related offenses, 1,599 arrests were made, while 512 suspects were apprehended for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and 41 for reckless or negligent driving.
Stop-and-search operations proved successful, recovering 791 dangerous weapons, including 716 knives.
Netshiunda confirmed that these operations will be intensified this month, particularly during the Easter weekend, as authorities continue their efforts to curb crime across the province.