Johannesburg - Thirteen people were arrested for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition over the weekend in Gauteng, police said on Monday.
Ten firearms were confiscated, said spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini.
“These firearms include a .22 rifle, a home-made handgun, seven 9mm pistols and a revolver. Further investigations are in progress to establish whether these suspects may be linked to serious and violent crimes or not,” said Dlamini.
“Some of these firearms were recovered through information forwarded by the members of the community. In Krugersdorp, Atteridgeville, Ivory Park and Eldorado Park, community members gave information that lead to the recovery of a rifle, two pistols, home-made handgun and a revolver.”
Dlamini said other firearms were recovered during prevention operations.
In Vosloorus, police responded to a business robbery at the Lesedi Shopping Centre where security guards were already tied up. “As they were conducting investigation and searching for the suspects on the premises, two suspects in possession of pistols were found hiding behind a wall of the shopping centre.”
The two face additional charges of business robbery.
A pistol was confiscated during a routine investigation by detectives who were questioning a person suspected to have been linked to a robbery case. Two pistols were seized during a stop and search in Midrand and Hillbrow.
The suspects were expected to appear at various courts on Monday.
ANA