Police uncover illicit arms trade, arrest suspected hitmen
Members of the Reiger Park SAPS’s newly formed crime intelligence unit have uncovered what they believe is an illegal gun trade.
They also arrested three BaSotho nationals in connection with the crime.
Two of the suspects, believed to be hitmen, were arrested in Delmore in the early hours of Saturday, July 29.
According to Reiger Park SAPS spokesperson Sgt Mashudu Phathela, members of the unit, who were acting on information received from the public, spotted the two alleged hitmen walking along a street in the township.
Officers approached them and discovered that they were in possession of an unlicensed loaded firearm. The two men were charged with possession of an illegal firearm.
They were also handed over to the Germiston police on suspicion that they were involved in a Germiston murder, which occurred the day before they were arrested in Boksburg.
The pair’s arrest led to the arrest of a third man in Ramaphosa. The third man was found in possession of 10 live rounds, and it is believed that he is involved in the illicit arms trade.
According to the police, the weapons have been positively linked to the ongoing illegal mining turf war among BaSotho nationals and a number of crimes related to this.
The suspects, aged 24, 26 and 36, were due to appear in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court and the Germiston Magistrate’s Court, respectively.
“We believe that the third suspect supplies the hitmen, who belong to the rival gangs of illegal miners, with weapons used or intended to be used in murders and robberies, including home invasions and other violent crimes,” said Phathela.
n In a related story, police and members of the CPF patrollers on Friday night, July 28, arrested a man they found in possession of an illegal firearm and dagga in the Flats, in Reiger Park.
Members of the team were carrying out their routine patrols in the Flats when they spotted a suspicious man, who, upon seeing the approaching members, attempted to run away.
The members gave chase and managed to apprehend the suspect. Upon searching him, police officers found an unlicensed firearm and dagga in his possession. He was charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of dagga.
Reiger Park station commander Col Else Mashinini applauded the members for making such a “breakthrough” in gun-related crimes.
“Illegal firearms cause terror in the community. So, removing two illegal firearms and live ammunition from our communities saved many lives.
“We believe there are still many illegal firearms in the community and, for that reason, we urge members of the public to give us information. By doing so you are saving someone’s life, maybe the lives of your relatives, friends and children,” said Mashinini. -@fanieFLK
