Operation Shanela seized unlicensed firearms and ammunition

Partnership policing contributed in stopping three suspects in their tracks on Wednesday 24 July 2024 when members of Operation Shanela acted on information and found them in possession of unlicensed and prohibited firearms and ammunition.

Police members deployed in Samora Machel were busy with crime prevention duties when they were requested to follow up on a suspicion of unlawful activities at an identified address. The members approached the premises in Feroza Adams Street at around 19:00, entered the premises and found a man who matched the description. He was searched which led to the recovery of a consignment of different calibre ammunition hidden inside the flat. The suspect could not provide a valid license to be in possession of the ammunition and the 40-year-old man was arrested for the unlawful possession of ammunition.

Meanwhile the deployment set their sights on an identified address in Cosovo. They operationalised the available information at their disposal and entered the house at around 21:00 where they found an unknown man. The police members interrogated the man until they recovered a 9mm pistol with ammunition. They arrested the 40-year-old man for the possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition.

In an unrelated intervention police members patrolling the N2 Highway between Grabouw and Caledon were informed of a person in the vicinity of Botrivier in possession of a firearm. The members spotted the man who fitted the description, searched him and recovered a pistol with ammunition which led to the arrest of the 22-year-old man for the possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition.

Once charged the suspects are expected to make their respective court appearances in the Athlone and Caledon Magistrate’s courts on the mentioned charges.