Five arrested, guns and ammunition confiscated

Five men were arrested for possession of four unlicensed firearms and 23 rounds of live ammunition, on Putfontein Road, on July 17.

Crystal Park SAPS arrested the men, aged between 22 and 56, at around 5.15pm.

Tryna Maritz, Crystal Park SAPS media liaison officer, said the men are allegedly involved in illegal mining.

Police spotted the suspects in a vehicle on Harry Gwala Street, travelling toward Putfontein.

”When the driver of the vehicle saw the police vehicle he acted very nervously and skipped a stop sign,” said Maritz.

”The suspects then tried to get away from the SAPS members, who called for back-up when they saw that the vehicle was not going to stop.”

The officers pulled over the vehicle and searched it.

They found the guns (three 38mms and a 9mm revolver), with three having had their serial numbers filed off, and the ammunition.

Maritz said one of the 38mm weapons had been reported as stolen in Bethlehem.

The suspects are expected to appear in the Benoni Magistrates Court on Monday (July 21), on charges of being in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

Crystal Park SAPS station commander Lieut Col Belinda Motaung praised her members for their good work.