JOHANNESBURG – Police arrested two suspects and seized 30 unlicensed firearms in Johannesburg on Monday evening. The firearms were destined for the Western Cape, according to information gathered during the investigation.
The operation took place in Meyersdal and involved the South African Police Service anti-kidnapping task team. Police believe they have stopped a criminal syndicate involved in firearms trafficking.
The operation included SAPS crime intelligence, the Gauteng Provincial Investigating Unit (PIU), Johannesburg K9 units, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), and private security companies.
The two suspects, aged 34 and 45, were arrested after police conducted surveillance for several days across provinces. Police moved in as the suspects collected the firearms for transport.
“The arrest of these suspects follows several days of surveillance and information gathering across provinces where suspects involved in the moving of unlicensed firearms were identified,” police said in a statement.
After further investigation, police found that all 30 seized 9mm pistols were meant for the Western Cape. The suspects planned to transport the illegal firearms themselves.
Both suspects are linked to other criminal cases in Gauteng and the Western Cape provinces.
The suspects face charges including illegal possession and trafficking of firearms. They remain in police custody.
Police are continuing their investigating in the hope of apprehending other members of the firearms trafficking syndicate.
