Cape Town – Western Cape police arrested a 62-year-old man in Malmesbury after uncovering an arms cache in a warehouse on Thursday.
During the operation police uncovered rifles, 9mm pistols, an assortment of rounds of ammunition and other heavy weapon artillery.
Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa said a tip off led the police to the locked-up warehouse in an industrial area in Malmesbury.
After spending two days scouring the scene, the police contingent comprising crime scene experts, organised crime and Hawks detectives, firearms and explosives experts as well as local police uncovered the arms cache, said Potelwa in a statement.
“They found 44 firearms, comprising nine rifles, handguns, a cannon and pistols. Police also found 11 firearm parts, which are considered firearms in terms of the Firearms Control Act.
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“Two full LDV (light-duty vehicle) loads of an assortment of rounds of ammunition, substantial quantities of gunpowder and numerous boxes used for storage of firearm magazines,” she said.
The suspect was charged with possession of unlicensed firearms, and ammunition in terms of aspects of the Firearms Control Act.
He is expected to appear in court in the Malmesbury Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
“As the investigation continues, the possibility of further arrests effected cannot be ruled out. The origin of the firearms, ammunition, and gunpowder is the subject of the police investigation with investigators setting their sights on other premises in the vicinity,” Potelwa said.
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Picture: saps.gov.za
Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
