On Friday, 21 February 2020 members of the Western Cape Flying Squad was busy with crime prevention patrols focusing on hijackings and armed robberies, when they noticed a suspicious motor vehicle on the N2 direction Khayelitsha. The members also noticed that the vehicle was reported to be involved in armed robberies in the Paarl police precinct. They chased the vehicle and as they approached Khayelitsha a shootout between the occupants of the suspicious vehicle and the Flying Squad members ensued. On the Mew Way bridge the members managed to intercept the vehicle and arrest the three suspects aged between 28 and 38.
Another 27-year-old person was wounded in the crossfire and was taken to a nearby medical facility for medical treatment. An unlicensed firearm was also found in the vehicle of the suspects. The suspects are due to appear in court once they have been charged with the illegal possession of a firearm.
The members were applauded for their vigilance as their actions ensured that an illegal firearm and ammunition were removed from the streets.
In an unrelated matter, an intelligence-driven operation on Friday, 21 February 2020, led to the recovery of an illegal firearm and ammunition in the Bishop Lavis Policing Precinct.
The Sector Commander on duty received valuable information from a reliable source, just after midday, relating to a suspicious parcel at a courier company at the airport industry. The members then immediately followed up on the information. Upon arrival at the business premises, the manager identified two parcels. The members opened the parcels on the premises in the presence of the manager and found a black box with a silver colour pistol, one black holster and 10x 9mm rounds and in the second parcel a total of 50 x9mm rounds of ammunition. The parcel was confiscated from the premises and an inquiry was registered for further investigation.
The community is encouraged to anonymously share information with Crime Stop on 08600 10111.