JOHANNESBURG – Members of the Johannesburg Flying Squad have arrested a suspect and recovered illegal firearms and ammunition during a targeted crime intelligence-driven operation in Bassonia.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed that the arrest of the 32-year-old man took place on Tuesday, 25 August 2026. According to a SAPS spokesperson, the operation was initiated after investigators received actionable intelligence regarding the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition at a residential premises in the Bassonia area.
Upon arriving at the location and conducting a search, law enforcement officers recovered two rifles—specifically a .308 rifle and a .22 rifle—alongside 5,000 rounds of ammunition spanning various calibres.
The suspect was subsequently taken into custody and formally arrested on charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. A SAPS spokesperson stated that police investigations remain actively ongoing to determine the full scope of the illegal weapons cache.
The accused is expected to appear before the local Magistrate’s Court in the near future as legal proceedings commence.
