Police in Gauteng recovered at least 78 unlicensed firearms of various calibres and 102 rounds of ammunition in the last week of September.
The firearms were recovered through police-coordinated operations such as stop and searches, crime combating, suspect tracking, and following up on tip-offs from the community.
On receiving information about suspects planning to rob a chain store in Cosmo City, Police swung into action. SAPS Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said “Four unlicensed firearms were recovered and four suspects arrested after police foiled an armed robbery in Cosmo City, Honeydew – Johannesburg on Thursday 30 September 2021.”
Masondo said information was operationalised, and police from Honeydew Reaction Team spotted the vehicle that matched the description given.
Masondo said on Friday, 01 October 2021, police recovered three firearms as they were pursuing a suspect believed to be behind the recent killing of people in Bekkersdal and West Rand.
Police also arrested four suspects in Kameeldrift, Tshwane District who were found in possession of three unlicensed firearms, a vehicle reported to be hijacked, and a vehicle taken from a house robbery.
According to Masondo the other firearms were recovered in various parts of Gauteng during operations and have been sent to Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic tests to establish if they were used in any other crimes.