KLERKSDORP – In an endeavour to fight the buying and selling of stolen goods, police together with officials from Immigration, Transnet, Eskom and Telkom conducted compliance inspections at Second-Hand Goods dealers and Liquor premises in Ikageng on Tuesday, 14 June 2022.

The operation was led by the Provincial Designated Police Officers (DPOs) Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Lesego Mosehle, accompanied by the Station Commander of Ikageng, Colonel Robert Leie and the Visible Policing Commander, Lt Col Paul Langeveld.

During the operation, one CZ 7.65 licenced pistol, loaded with a magazine was confiscated at a scrap yard and a 47-year-old owner was arrested for contravening Section 120 (8) of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000) after the firearm was found stored in a shoe box instead of a safe. He was eventually released on a warning to appear in court. Moreover, five fines with the total value of R7500.00 were issued to businesses for contravening the Second-Hand Goods Act, 2009 (Act No. 6 of 2009).

Stop and searches were also conducted around Second-Hand goods premises that were visited and four male suspects, aged between 27 and 46, were arrested for dealing in drugs. One undocumented person, aged 34, was also identified and handed over to Immigration Officials, for processing.

All suspects are expected to appear before court soon.

Ten municipal dustbins which are apparently used to carry stolen goods were also confiscated during the operation.

Police would once more like to remind the Second-Hand Goods dealers that Chapter 2(1) of the Act stipulates that every person, who carries out a business as a dealer must be registered. Furthermore a dealer must keep a register in the prescribed form and record in the register the prescribed particulars regarding every acquisition or disposal of second-hand goods according to chapter 4 (21)(1).

Source: South African Police Service