WESTERN CAPE: Various police units intensified their fight against illegal firearms this week, with multiple successful operations leading to arrests and the recovery of several weapons and ammunition.

In Mitchells Plain, members of the Crime Prevention Unit were patrolling Polo Street, Beacon Valley on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, when they heard gunshots. Officers pursued a speeding Toyota Yaris, and after a chase, apprehended two suspects who fled on foot. Three 9mm pistols with ammunition were seized. The two men face charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

In Villiersdorp, swift police action, also on 7 October, targeted suspects allegedly extorting spaza shop owners. Officers intercepted a Suzuki Swift linked to the group and discovered a 9mm pistol with 15 rounds and a Star .45 calibre firearm with 14 rounds inside the vehicle. Four suspects, aged between 21 and 39, were arrested and are due to appear in the Caledon Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 9 October 2026.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday 6 October in Military Heights, Seawind, Anti‑Gang Unit members on foot patrol received information about a suspect carrying a toiletry bag with a firearm. The suspect fled, discarding the bag, which was recovered with a firearm and 30 rounds of ammunition. An investigation into the weapon’s origin is underway.

Also on 6 October, in Charlesville, an intelligence‑driven Anti‑Gang Unit operation led to the discovery of a 9mm pistol with 26 rounds hidden under a Toyota Hilux in a yard. A 30‑year‑old man was arrested .

Police say these coordinated operations underscore their commitment to removing illegal firearms from communities and curbing gang‑related violence across the province.