Police in the Western Cape remain resolute, making inroads in the fight against the proliferation of illegal possessed firearms which pose a threat to the safety of the inhabitants of this province through the confiscation of four firearms and the arrests of suspects who were found in possession thereof.
On Sunday, 07 July 2024 at about 19:30, members attached to the Anti Economical, Extortion Task Team and Provincial Counterfeit Goods Task Team flooded the streets of Browns Farm, notorious for violent and firearm related crime.
Members were driving in Dyushu Street, Browns Farm, when they spotted several males standing at the back of a white Quantum. The members approached them tactically upon which the suspects fled into different directions to evade arrest.
The members hot in pursuit managed to first trace a suspect who fled into a nearby house and another who disappeared over the roof of the house to the back of a flat where he hid himself. They arrested the first suspect with a fully loaded revolver found in his possession. A female was found with a 9 mm pistol next to her. During an extended search inside the house they found a third suspect, a male person with a 9 mm pistol without a serial number. The suspect who fled over the roof was also traced and found in possession of a 9 mm pistol with an extra magazine in his pocket.
The members expanded the search, armed with information that led them to a premises in Lotus, Gugulethu where several R1 and Ak47 rounds of ammunition were discovered and seized. The members also found a gas rifle at a premises situated close by. All these firearms were confiscated and the suspects aged between 23 and 36 were arrested on charges of possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition.
Meanwhile, the members also stopped and searched a silver VW Polo vehicle, which was tested as stolen. This discovery led to the arrest of two men aged 24 and 26 who face charges related to the possession of stolen property.
The arrested suspects are due to appear in the Athlone Magistrate court once charged.
These significant arrests and seizures bear testimony to the ongoing endeavours to rid our streets of firearms in the wrong hands through targeted crime combatting operations in identified hotspot areas. For the past week, police in the Western Cape have already seized 54 firearms during operations, compared to the last financial year which saw 1 247 illegal firearms and 21 059 rounds of ammunition seized.
Western Cape police make inroads against illegal possession of firearms and ammunition https://t.co/P3tTvNoazn#ArriveAlive #GunsOffTheStreets @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/Ds0Ws6hgwN
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) July 8, 2024