Reporter – George C April
Cape Town:- Quick action by vigilant police officers led to two successful operations that took illegal firearms off the streets and resulted in multiple arrests this week.
On Monday night, members of the Maitland Flying Squad acted on information about a suspicious Volkswagen Polo seen driving around the Belgravia area in Athlone. Officers spotted the vehicle at the corner of Belgravia and Klipfontein Roads and conducted a search.
Inside the car, police discovered a 9mm pistol with nine rounds of ammunition. Four men, aged between 22 and 38, were arrested on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
In a separate incident, the Makhaza Anti-Hijacking Team responded to intelligence about a Toyota Etios allegedly used in a string of robberies in the Khayelitsha area. Officers identified the vehicle but when they attempted to intercept it, the driver sped off.
A short while later, the vehicle was found abandoned in a nearby informal settlement. Police recovered a homemade rifle and ammunition inside. Further investigation revealed that the Etios had been hijacked in Parow in July 2025.
Police say investigations into both cases are ongoing.
“These recoveries demonstrate our commitment to removing illegal firearms from our communities and ensuring the safety of residents,” a police spokesperson said.
#visiblepolicing #fightingcrime #gunsoffthestreets #triocrimes