GAUTENG – An intelligence-driven sting operation by the Gauteng Hawks National Bureau of Illegal Firearms Control and Priority Violent Crimes (SANEB) has led to the arrest of a 65 year old suspect for possession of unlicensed firearms, ammunition, explosives and gold bearing material.
The arrest follows a five month investigation after the Hawks received information about a suspect who was allegedly in possession of suspected illegal firearms and ammunition. A search and seizure was operation was conducted on Tuesday and with the assistance from the Springs SAPS, the Bomb disposal unit and Dog Unit, the members seized 16 shotguns, a revolver, 1.5 million of ammunition, different kinds of explosives, signal fairs, hand grenades and electronic detonators.
During the intensive search members also recovered containers having suspected gold bearing used for the processing of gold dust worth over R300 000.
Hawks Acting Head Lieutenant General Yolisa Matakata, congratulated Gauteng Provincial Head, Major General Prince Mokotedi and his SANEB team and all other officers involved in the operation.
“I am very pleased with the result and I want to encourage them to continue with the hard work. The next big job it to investigate the origin of the arms and ammunition, their intended use, and whether any of them had been used to commit an offence.
“Gauteng is not a haven for arms caches and we would to warn anyone that the Hawks are watching you. The Hawks are seriously shifting their focus to this kind of individuals who harbor illegal firearms and explosives that instill fear in our communities. With the help of our communities we will break the spine of organized crime with all its manifestations in the country.” Lieutenant General Matakata added.
Meanwhile, the suspect will appear before the Springs Magistrates Court on Thursday facing charges of possession of unlicensed firearms, ammunition, explosives, gold bearing material, and contravention of Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.
