By Augustine Ehikioya
Curbing violent crime in Alexandra, Police officials in South Africa have arrested two suspects for selling ammunition and firearms to criminals.
The Police also recovered ammunition and firearms from the arrest.
A statement by Mavela Masondo of the South African Police Service, Office of the Provincial Commissioner, Gauteng, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA) on Wednesday reads “Police arrested two suspects aged 44 and 33, who are reported to be selling out firearms and ammunition to the criminals in Alexandra and Cosmo City.
“The suspects were found in possession of more than 20 rounds of ammunition and four unlicensed firearms.”
Giving details of the arrest, the statement said members of South African Police Service Crime Intelligence in Gauteng and the Honeydew Tracing Team had earlier received a tip-off about “people who are dealing in illegal firearms in Alexandra and Cosmo City.”
It said an intelligence-driven operation was conducted where the Police pounced on the identified houses.
The statement added “The first search was conducted in a house in Cosmo City where the Police found a firearm with serial numbers filled off, and a magazine. One suspect was arrested.
“The information led the Police to the second house in Alexandra. Upon searching the house and the suspect, Police recovered unlicensed firearms and ammunition that includes a 9mm pistol, a 9mm Uzzi, 38 special and more than 20 rounds of ammunition.”
The statement said the suspects are facing charges of dealing and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
“It was also established that the suspects were previously arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms.”
The statement also disclosed that as the Police continued with the fight against the proliferation of firearms in Gauteng Province, another suspect, aged 33, was arrested in Rietgat, Tshwane, on Tuesday 19 July, 2022, after he was found with an unlicensed firearm.
“The suspect was alleged to be involved in hijackings and robberies in the area,” it stated.
The statement disclosed further that the Police is working with the community to recover the weapons that are used in the commission of serious and violent crimes in Alexandra and other parts of Gauteng.
“Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, commended the team that is working so hard to arrest suspects and recover illegal firearms that are in circulation and thanked the community members that are coming forward to provide Police with information.
“The improved working relationship with our communities and sharing of information is beginning to give us the desired outcome of addressing the proliferation of firearms and violent, crimes,” said Lieutenant General Mawela.