Western Cape police through concerted efforts have in various targeted operations confiscated 19 illegal firearms and 790 rounds of ammunition during the week.
The operations were executed throughout the province from Monday 4 until Sunday 10 October 2021, with a specific focus on identified hotspots and crime generators.
On the main, illegal firearms and to some extent other dangerous weapons continue to contribute to serious violent crimes such as murders, attempted murders, hijackings and armed robberies. The seizures comprised rifles, pistols, gas guns and imitation firearms.
On Thursday evening members of the Anti-Gang Unit chased and arrested a 40-year-old suspect from Bonteheuwel and seized an unlicensed rifle. While on Friday the Anti-Gang Unit deployed in Bishop Lavis confiscated two pistols and charged a 34-year-old suspect with strong links to gangs. He was charged with possession of prohibited firearms.
Meanwhile Cape Town, K9 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.
Lockdown II forces deployed in Delft stopped and searched several persons and seized 16 knives and dangerous weapons. The same Lockdown II forces discovered an abandoned gas gun in Viscount Street at the Hague.
Two suspects aged 28 and 30 were arrested by police in Basboom Street in Delft South on Tuesday for possession home-made guns (zip guns).
Meanwhile in Atlantis a 17-year-old was apprehended by the Atlantis crime prevention unit members for possession of a 9mm pistol. Also in the Atlantis precinct, on Monday, a 28-year-old was arrested for possession of an imitation firearm.
Other firearms were seized in operations in Nyanga, Gugulethu, Delft, Steenberg and Khayelitsha.
In weekend operations, members of George Public Order Police deployed in hotspots in the Cape Town metropole recovered on Sunday morning during a routine stop and search on Lillian Ngoyi Street, Samora Machel, a vehicle reportedly stolen in Indwe in the Eastern Cape in June 2021. A 33-year-old suspect was henceforth arrested.
While on Saturday evening, Breede river K9 unit members arrested three suspects aged 20, 23 and 26 in the Roodewal Flats, for possession of stolen vehicle batteries.
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.
On the drug front, Eden and Central Karoo rural flying squad members intercepted drug consignments worth over R2 million in two major seizures during the week.
All suspects arrested over the weekend will appear in various court on Monday. The efforts of all involved are commended by SAPS management.
