| Police recover 119 firearms and 1 144 rounds of ammunition in national crime takedowns | |
|---|---|
| Date Published: | |
| 02/FEB/26 | |
| Description Details: | |
|
Media Statement PRETORIA - The South African Police Service (SAPS) has scored big wins in the fight against crime, focusing strongly on taking illegal guns and ammunition out of circulation. In nationwide Shanela II operations, police arrested 14 589 suspects for crimes including murder, rape, sexual assault, robberies, drug offences, and illegal mining between 26 January and 01 February 2026. Furthermore, 2 032 wanted suspects were also traced and arrested for serious crimes during the same period. Police also recovered 119 firearms, including 10 rifles, seven shotguns, and five homemade firearms, alongside 1 144 rounds of ammunition. These recoveries form part of a broader clampdown on violent crime. In addition, police arrested: * 100 suspects for illegal possession of firearms * 88 suspects for illegal possession of ammunition * 124 suspects for murder * 164 suspects for rape * 102 suspects for armed robbery * 532 suspects for drug dealing Under confiscations and recoveries: * 51 hijacked and stolen vehicles recovered in this past week; * More than 700 dangerous weapons seized across the country; * different types of drugs recovered; and * contraband goods worth more than R1 million seized
Provincial highlights this week:
Gauteng: One suspect shot dead, two arrested after a shootout in Midrand. Firearm and cash seized. Gauteng (Atteridgeville): Two pistols, one shotgun, six magazines and ammunition recovered. KwaZulu-Natal: Four suspects fatally wounded in Adam’s Mission shootout. No police injured. KwaZulu-Natal (Ntuzuma): Explosives with detonators found in vehicle. Suspect arrested. KwaZulu-Natal (KwaMaphumulo): Ten unlicensed firearms, including AK47 and R5 rifles, seized. Seven suspects arrested. Western Cape: 25 foreign nationals detained with stolen Eskom copper cables. The SAPS remains committed to removing illegal firearms and ammunition from circulation, as these are key drivers of violent crime. Communities are urged to continue reporting criminal activity to their nearest police station, through Crime Stop (08600 10111) or the MySAPS App. Ends
Enquiries:
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/SAPoliceService |
|