Port Elizabeth: The seizure of illegal firearms and the apprehension of suspects emanates from continued high police visibility in hotspot areas of Bethelsdorp and Gelvandale.

While members were busy with patrols on 2019-01-21 in the area of Booysen Park, Bethelsdorp they received information regarding illegal firearms at a Spaza shop in the area. The members immediately followed up on the information. Upon arrival at the shop, they discovered that it was closed and as they attempted to gain entrance, three gunshots were heard. The members ordered the person inside the shop to open and upon searching the premises the members recovered a firearm with ammunition that was found hidden in a box with chips.

While the members were busy on the scene another person arrived and claimed to be the brother of the suspect and he was requested to leave the scene. As he was driving off, he collided into one of the SAPS vehicles. His vehicle was searched and another firearm was found hidden in the vehicle. Both suspects aged 30 and 35 were arrested on charges of illegal possession of fire arm and ammunition. The suspects were also detained under the Immigration Act as their documents were not in order.

In a separate incident in Bethelsdorp, on2019-01-21 members followed up on information on another illegal firearm and during the search in an open field behind Ganger Street, Bethelsdorp they recovered another firearm.

‘We will continue in our efforts in cleaning up our streets and ridding them of illegal and unlicensed firearms that are used to terrorise and threaten the safety of our communities and our police officers,’ said Cluster Commander for Mount Road, Maj Gen Thembisile Patekile.

Source: South African Police Service