CAPE TOWN - In just a week, Western Cape police have confiscated 19 illegal firearms and 790 rounds of ammunition during “concerted efforts have in various targeted operations”’
On the main, officers have expressed concern about illegal firearms with the seizures including rifles, pistols, gas guns and imitation firearms, while other dangerous weapons continue to contribute to serious violent crimes such as murders, attempted murders, hijackings and armed robberies.
Officers also dealt a blow on the drug trade when Eden and Central Karoo rural flying squad members intercepted drug consignments worth over R2 million in two major seizures during the week.
Anti-Gang Unit members chased and arrested a 40-year-old Bonteheuwel suspect and seized an unlicensed rifle on Thursday.
The same unit confiscated two pistols and charged a 34-year-old suspect with strong links to gangs with possession of prohibited firearms on Friday.
Cape Town K-9 unit members followed up information on Thursday in the Blackheath industrial area about a vehicle whose occupants were behaving suspiciously.
“Upon searching the vehicle on the corner of Range and Stellenbosch Arterial roads, they discovered a 9mm firearm in a black paper bag on the back seat and another 9mm pistol on one of the four occupants of the vehicle. All four suspects were subsequently arrested,” said police spokesperson Novela Potelwa.
In Delft, Lockdown II forces discovered an abandoned gas gun in Viscount Street at the Hague while two suspects aged 28 and 30 were arrested in Basboom Street in Delft South for possession of home-made guns (zip guns) on Tuesday.
Other firearms were seized in operations in Nyanga, Gugulethu, Delft, Steenberg and Khayelitsha and in Atlantis where a 17-year-old was arrested for possession of a 9mm pistol. Also in the Atlantis precinct, a 28-year-old was arrested for possession of an imitation firearm on Monday.
“Three suspects were arrested by Lockdown II forces on Saturday in Nyanga in a vehicle checkpoint with house breaking implements.
“The vehicle the suspects were in was discovered to have been stolen in September in Harare, Khayelitsha. The vehicle has since been linked to several house robberies that occurred recently.
“The three suspects aged 17, 23 and 24 have been charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and house-breaking implements. As investigations continue the suspects could face additional charges,” said Potelwa.
Cape Times