Operation Shanela continues to assist Police in dealing with proliferation of firearms which are often used in the commission of violent crimes. This time around, Police in the province arrested four suspects, aged between 28 and 74 on Friday, 28 June 2024. Amongst the arrested suspects, two were nabbed in Calcutta area whilst one was apprehended in Bushbuckridge and the fourth suspect was arrested in Ogies.
According to a report, the sting operation was carried out in a well-coordinated manner.
It is reported that members from the Task Team Unit in Calcutta, collaborated with their counterparts from Calcutta Police Station, and they focused around Ximhunge-Malamule areas near Mkhuhlu, performing their duties when they spotted a man acting suspiciously.
The man was searched and it was during this time when members found a pistol with two live ammunition in his possession hence he was apprehended on charges of possession of unlicensed firearm with ammunition.
As members continued with the operation, they proceeded to a certain house in Justicia Trust where they found a man and conducted a search inside the house, resulting in the discovery a firearm with two live ammunition. He too was apprehended on charges of possession of unlicensed firearm with ammunition.
Preliminary investigation suggests that the two suspects could be part of a group of suspects sought by the Police for a spate of business robberies which were reportedly committed against Pakistani nationals as well as against tavern owners around Calcutta Policing Precinct.
The third suspect was cornered during the operation that was carried out in Bushbuckridge on Tuesday, 26 June 2024, by members of the Detective Services in Bushbuckridge. It is said that the said members followed some information about a suspect who was in possession of an unlicensed firearm.
The information was positive as they managed to corner him and discovered that he too was in possession of a revolver as well as ten live rounds of ammunition hence he was apprehended then charged accordingly. He is expected to appear at the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 01 July 2024.
On the same Monday, the other two suspects that were arrested in Calcutta will have their day in court as they are due to appear at the Mkhuhlu Magistrate’s Court facing similar charges.
Meanwhile a 41-year-old suspect, identified as Jeremiah Tsepo Mhlongo appeared at the Ogies Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 26 June 2024, after being arrested for possession of unlicensed firearm with ammunition.
According to a report, a day prior, Tuesday 25 June 2024 around 08:15, members from Middelburg Flying Squad Unit were performing their patrol duties when they spotted a silver Toyota Corolla with four occupants (three males and one female) on the N12 Road near Ogies.
The men and women in Blue stopped the vehicle and upon searching, Mhlongo was found with a firearm as well as three ammunition but he reportedly had no firearm licence hence he was locked up as well as charged.
Mhlongo will appear again at the Ogies Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 03 July 2024 for a formal bail application meanwhile he is currently in custody.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi has observed these developments with great appreciation and the General assured members of the public that Police will work hard to remove illegal firearms from the wrong hands. “We are moving towards the right direction in the fight against proliferation of firearms in the province. We continue to urge our communities to share valuable information on the whereabouts of these weapons as we promise to act promptly and recover those firearms. We are glad that in all these incidents, suspects were arrested,” said the General.
Multiple suspects arrested for firearm crimes https://t.co/N3TvHeUzFg#ArriveAlive #GunsOffTheStreets @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/cwMB9ILNoo
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) June 30, 2024