A high-impact police operation has led to the arrest of three suspects and the seizure of illegal firearms and military-grade equipment in Port St John’s. The operation was carried out by Tactical Response and Combat Teams from the OR Tambo and Joe Gqabi districts.
Officers acted on intelligence linking illegal firearms to ongoing taxi violence and recent cash-in-transit robberies. Search warrants were executed at two homesteads in Tombo A/A and Mthumbane.
At the first property in Tombo A/A, police found a 46-year-old woman in possession of a shotgun and a 9mm pistol. While she presented licenses, she failed to provide valid documentation for the ammunition. A 52-year-old man at the same location was found with an unlicensed shotgun. Police confiscated a shotgun, a 9mm pistol, a magazine, 33 9mm cartridges, and five shotgun shells.
At the second location in Mthumbane, a 38-year-old woman was found with a wooden case containing several assault rifles. She claimed the firearms belonged to her husband and denied knowledge of their presence. Seized items included ten AK-47 rifles, 19 magazines, 100 rounds of 7.62 ammunition, cleaning kits, pouches, and oil canisters.
All three suspects face charges relating to the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and violations of the Firearms Control Act.
Eastern Cape Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Thandiswa Kupiso, praised the efforts of the teams involved, stating that the removal of such weapons is a critical step in protecting communities from organised crime and potential violence.
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