Operations aimed to eliminate the proliferation of illegal firearms are continuously conducted in Ekurhuleni and surrounding areas. This was confirmed after a suspect was arrested for being in possession of two firearms in Bedfordview, Ekurhuleni.
The Ekurhuleni North CIS, Ekurhuleni District Tracing team, and Benoni flying Squad acted on a tip-off regarding an individual who was alleged to be in possession of unlicensed firearms and it is rumoured that he was renting out his rifles to criminals, especially those who are involved in multiple crimes. Police officers traced and observed the suspect’s home to verify the information, from the day on which they were alerted until Friday August 20, 2021 when an intelligence driven operation was instituted from the Bedfordview police precinct.
On arrival at the suspect’s house, a searching procedure was conducted in his presence and upon searching a Rifle, a magazine with 29 live ammunitions, a 9mm Glock Pistol , a magazine with eight live ammunitions, a construction rotating orange light and money amounting to R2400 were found and all the recovered items were seized. A 31 year old suspect was arrested and detained at Bedfordview SAPS for possession of unlicensed firearms & Ammunitions and in possession of allegedly stolen property.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the Rifle belongs to a security company in Roodepoort and it was taken during a Business Robbery in November last year at Kempton Park, and the 9mm Glock belongs to one of the security companies in Moreleta Park in Pretoria, and it was also forcefully taken from the owner in February this year at Boksburg North. Ekurhuleni District Commissioner, Major General Anna Sithole commended the members for their swift response that led to the successful results, saying; “The police officers are continuing to uphold their mandate in removing all the criminals from the society.”
By Vusumuzi Makwakwa
