Police recover three illegal firearms and arrest three suspects on intercepting a trip transporting firearms and ammunition from Kwazulu-Natal to Gauteng
Relentless efforts by the South African Police Service to curb the proliferation of illegal firearms, has seen a multi-disciplinary team from Gauteng Operational Command Centre, recover three firearms and ammunition, and arrest three suspects on Saturday afternoon, 04 January 2020 near Heidelberg, De Hoek Plaza on the N3.
In an intelligence-led activation, police operationalised information of firearms and ammunition that were in transit from KwaZulu-Natal to Gauteng. Police spotted and intercepted the suspects’ vehicle near the De Hoek Plaza toll gate on the N3 and police found in the vehicle three firearms in a box with a lot of ammunition.
The suspects have been charged with possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, and are expected to appear before court in due course.
Gauteng Provincial Commissioner of police, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, has welcomed the arrests and recovery of the firearms, describing the seizure as having spared many innocent lives.
“We call upon owners of illegal or unlicensed, and/or unwanted firearms and ammunition, to hand them in at designated police stations while the firearm amnesty period is still underway until end of May this year,” said the Provincial Commissioner.