The proliferation of illegal firearms in the Northern areas has been dealt a blow this weekend as four firearms were seized during separate incidents by police who responded to tip-offs and routine stop and searches.
In the first incident, on Friday, 15 November 2019, at about 14:10, PE Flying Squad members were patrolling in Kanniedood Street in Jacksonville when they were stopped by a community member who informed them that her nephew was just robbed of his Samsung cellphone by 3 unknown males with a firearm. The members immediately rushed in the direction of the fleeing suspects and spotted the suspects in an open field.
All three suspects, aged 20, 29 and 30 years old were arrested and the stolen cell phone as well as a .45 calibre revolver with rounds were recovered. The suspects were detained on charges of illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition and possession of suspected stolen property.
In the second incident, on Friday, 15 November at about 22:30, Anti Gang Unit members acted on information that a firearm is hidden in the front yard of a house Henegan Street in Booysens Park. A thorough search was conducted and a 9mm pistol was found hidden under a huge stone next to the house. The serial number had been filed off. No one was arrested and the pistol was confiscated.
A third firearm was recovered on Saturday, 16 November 2019 at about 08:20 when Anti Gang Unit members followed up on information about a firearm at a flat in Govan Mbeki Road in Missionvale. As members entered the flat, the 20 year old suspect was seen placing the firearm in the pocket of a pair of jeans and tossing the jeans aside. A 6.35mm browning pistol was recovered and the suspect was detained on a charge of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The fourth firearm was recovered on Saturday, 16 November 2019 at about 13:00 when the Anti Gang Unit Tracking Team were busy engaging tracing suspects. As they stopped at a house in Elcamino Street in Missionvale, they noticed 3 males in the yard. One of the males started to walk away towards the house. The suspect retrieved a black revolver from his pants and threw it inside the house through the gate. The firearm was allegedly taken from someone inside the house.
AGU members provided backup and the firearm was found hidden in a broken TV set. The serial number was filed off. A 20 year old suspect was arrested and detained for prohibited possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.
The arrested suspects will appear in court on Monday, 18 November 2019
The confiscation of these firearms in an indication that the police is serious on stamping the authority of the State and will continue to do so in their efforts to remove illegal firearms from circulation as they are being used to commit serious and violent crimes.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
