Western Cape police arrested several people for the illegal possession of a firearm in one day.
On Monday, 22 April, five men aged between 19 and 24 were arrested for possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition and possession of suspected stolen property.
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According to Captain Frederick van Wyk, members attached to Operation Shanela followed up on information received of firearms at a premises in Chukumisa Street in Town Two, Cape Town at 10pm.
‘The information was operationalized and upon arrival, the premises was searched during which a firearm without a serial number, five rounds of ammunition, 40 x 1.22 rounds, a R1 round and a hand radio was found and subsequently seized,’ says Van Wyk.
The group will appear in the Khayelitsha Magistrates’ Court once charged.
At around 11:30pm, members attached to the Anti-Gang Unit arrested a 20-year-old woman for possession of an unlicensed firearm and illegal dealing in drugs.
While conducting visible policing patrols, members received information about a firearm being kept at a premises in Blydoorn Court, Avonwood.
They found and confiscated the firearm, as well as 70 mandrax tablets. The woman will appear in the Goodwood Magistrates’ Court once she has been charged.
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At around 11:45pm, in Robertson, officers arrested an adult male for the possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition.
They had received a complaint about a person in possession of a firearm at a premises in Enkanini informal settlement.
‘They swiftly responded to the complaint and upon arrival at the address, they knocked at the door, and the suspect opened, but he immediately closed when he noticed the police presence,’ says police spokesperson Anelisiwe Manyana.
‘The suspect ran back inside and went to hide while the members pushed the door open. When they got inside, they found the suspect hiding under the bed with the firearm lying on his chest.’
He could not provide a valid licence to own the firearm and was subsequently arrested. He will appear in the Robertson Magistrates’ court once charged.
On 21 April, members attached to the Flying Squad also made two arrests linked to illegal firearms.
Members responded to a suspicious vehicle spotted in Stikland around 12pm while patrolling the R300 towards Bellville. ‘They requested backup and the vehicle was pulled over before Govan Mbeki bridge,’ says Van Wyk.
After closer inspection of the vehicle, the members found two firearms, one revolver and a silver 9mm pistol.
‘Preliminary investigations revealed that the vehicle was reported as hijacked in Delft in March 2024. The vehicle was also linked to a business robbery perpetrated at a clothing retail store in Parow,’ Van Wyk adds.
Two men, aged 35 and 40, were arrested and detained at Lentegeur SAPS on charges of possession of unlicensed firearms, possession of a hijacked motor vehicle and business robbery.
They will appear in the Mitchells Plain Magistrates’ Court once charged.
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Picture: Jacques Stander / Gallo Images
