Efforts to rid our communities of illegal firearms and drugs and to bring the perpetrators thereof to book, yielded positive results when members arrested a few suspects for an array of charges.
Early Saturday morning, 22 July 2023, members of Flying Squad chased a hijacked vehicle which collided with numerous other vehicles before it came to a halt. The passenger jumped out of the vehicle and fired several shots at the SAPS members, hitting the windscreen of the SAPS vehicle. Members returned fire and hit the suspect. A pistol of which the serial number was removed, was seized. Members also found 43 small packets of tik and 15 mandrax tablets. Two suspects aged 22 and 39 were arrested for possession of a hijacked vehicle, possession of a prohibited firearm and possession of drugs. One suspect was detained at Belhar SAPS and the injured suspect was admitted at a local hospital, under police guard. Members were not injured. The suspects will appear in the Bluedowns Magistrates court on Monday, 24 July 2023, on the mentioned charges.
In an unrelated matter, on 22 July 2023, members attached to Anti-Gang Unit received information that firearms and drugs are being stored at a premises in Yellow Wood Street, Bonteheuwel. Information was followed up and the premise was searched. Members found a hidden compartment in the kitchen cupboard from which they recovered a .38 Rossi revolver with serial number removed and five rounds of ammunition.
A 43-year-old suspect was arrested after members searched him and found 29 sachets of tik and an undisclosed amount of cash, suspected to be the proceeds of crime, in his possession. The evidence was handed in as exhibits. The suspect is due to appear in the Bishop Lavis Magistrates’ court on Monday, 24 July 2023, for possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition and dealing in drugs.
On 21 July 2023 at about 20:30, members attached to Operation Restore Khayelitsha / Lingelethu West conducted an intelligence driven operation in Mowbray. They were busy with high density stop and search operation at Station Road when they spotted a suspicious male whom, when he saw marked Police vehicles, changed direction. The members gave chase and managed to apprehend the suspect. The members searched him and found an imitation firearm in his possession as well as a dangerous weapon and suspected stolen goods. He could not give reasonable account of being in possession of the goods and was therefore arrested.