Efforts to curb the proliferation of illegal firearms in Diepsloot yielded positive results as police recovered two unlicensed firearms in a week.
Diepsloot Police Station officers arrested a 37-year-old man on Wednesday, 26 June for possession of an unlicensed firearm. Members of the police were conducting routine patrols in Ext 1 when they spotted a man making a run for it soon after he saw the police van.
The members swiftly alighted from the vehicle, gave chase and caught the suspect.
Upon searching the suspect, they found a firearm in his possession which he failed to produce a licence for, leading to his arrest. Another major breakthrough was made on Saturday night, 29 June as a 39-year-old man was arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm and live ammunition.
Police officers followed up on a tip-off from a CPF member who claimed to have seen a man with a firearm. Police members proceeded to Ext 13, upon arrival the suspect was searched and police found a firearm in his possession.
When asked to produce a licence for the firearm, he failed to do so and was subsequently arrested.
Corporate communications officer at the Diepsloot Police Station Captain Tinyiko Mathebula said, “They have been arrested, one of them has already appeared at the Randburg Magistrates’ Court and the other one will make his appearance on Monday.”
