Lerato Mbhiza
THE South African Police Service (SAPS) in Gauteng recovered more than fifty (50) unlicensed firearms and more than one-hundred-and-eighty (180) live rounds of ammunition this past weekend.
The firearms were recovered across the province during an integrated crime combating operations that included Operation Shanela and stop-and-searches, while others were recovered through tip-offs from members of the community.
The Provincial Commissioner of the Police in Gauteng, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni said on Friday, police from the Crime Intelligence Unit received information about gangster members who were about to be involved in a shooting around Eldorado Park, in Joburg.
“The suspects’ vehicle was spotted and stopped in Eldorado Park. Upon searching the vehicle and the suspects, police found two (02) pistols, magazines, and more than forty-five (45) live rounds of ammunition. The vehicle driven by the suspects was reported to be stolen in Kagiso”.
Mthombeni added that in Soshanguve, Tshwane District, the police recovered two unlicensed firearms from the house of the suspect who is involved in the registration of stolen and hijacked vehicles.
“Police received a tip-off about a man who was in possession of unlicensed firearms and involved in illegal registration of vehicles”.
Mthombeni commended the police, other law enforcement agencies and the community of Gauteng for pulling together to remove the firearms that are in the wrong hands.
“The recovery of these weapons will contribute to the reduction of crime in the province, as most of the violent crimes like business robberies and car hijackings are committed by suspects who are armed with unlicensed firearms,” said Mthombeni.
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