WESTERN CAPE – The determination and commitment of police officers to ensure a safer festive season, yielded notable successes. Members of Maitland Flying Squad were doing a stop and search operation in Athlone area last night when they searched a pedestrian and found a 9 mm pistol without a serial number in his possession. The suspect, a 29-year-old man was arrested and detained on a charge of possession of prohibition and unlicensed firearm and ammunition.  The suspect will appear in Athlone court on Friday morning.

The arrest comes after Athlone police members were busy with patrols earlier this week when they searched a suspect in Forbes Avenue, Belgravia Estate. The man aged 23 was arrested when found in possession of a loaded pistol for which he did not possess a valid licence. He made his court appearance in Athlone Magistrate court already on a charge of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Source: South African Police Service