A 24-year-old man was arrested early on Wednesday morning, 23 October, in Samora Machel after members of the Anti-Economical and Extortion Crime Task Team found him in possession of illegal firearms and drugs, Cape {town} Etc reports.
This arrest, part of ongoing efforts to curb extortion in Cape Town, comes at a time when the city faces the highest number of extortion cases in the country.
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Acting on intelligence, the task team raided a property in an informal settlement where the suspect had allegedly been storing firearms for extortion purposes.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), officers confiscated an AK47 assault rifle with 45 rounds of ammunition, five shotgun rounds, a 9mm pistol, 16 mandrax tablets, and 36 packets of crystal meth during the search.
The suspect has been charged with the illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and drugs and will appear in the Athlone Magistrates’ Court.
This arrest underscores Cape Town’s ongoing extortion crisis. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu recently revealed that the Western Cape has 119 active extortion cases, the highest in South Africa.
Despite efforts to combat the crime, extortion continues to grip the province, with many cases going unreported due to fears of retaliation.
SAPS has been mobilising specialised resources to address the threat, focusing on dismantling criminal networks involved in extortion and other violent crimes.
Also read:
Data shows Western Cape as having the most extortion cases in SA
Picture: SAPS / Supplied
