Three men are facing charges related to the illegal possession and sale of firearms after they were arrested in Edenvale, Jeppe and Primrose by the Edenvale SAPS.
On Saturday last week members of the Edenvale SAPS received information that nine firearms meant for voluntary surrender to the firearms office were sold illegally.
Acting spokesperson for the Edenvale SAPS, Lieutenant Colonel Robbie Roberts, said the missing firearms included five rifles and four handguns.
“The information also suggested that about 300 rounds of ammunition were missing,” he said.
With the help of SAPS members from the Flying Squad, Edenvale SAPS investigations led them to a house in Harmelia where the man who allegedly sold the firearms lived.
“He gave officers details of who he had sold the firearms to,” Lt Col Roberts said.
Following up on information, officers arrived at a house in Primrose where five of the weapons and about 190 rounds of ammunition were recovered.
In Jeppe, while sports fans were gathered to watch rugby at Ellis Park, officers arrived at a business close by.
A man residing at the business showed officers where he kept the remaining four firearms and 102 rounds of ammunition,” Lt Col Roberts said.
The serial numbers on one of the firearms had been removed.
“According to the man arrested in Jeppe, he was told to remove the serial numbers,” Lt Col Roberts said.
He added that two of the men arrested were also ordered to hand over their three private firearms.
“Firearms are for self-defense, sport or hunting – not for selling illegally,” Lt Col Roberts said.
Under the Firearms Act it is prohibited for anyone to sell a firearm without a licence.
“It is also illegal for anyone to keep a firearm, even if it belongs to a trusted friend if they do not have a licence to possess that firearm,” he said.
Lt Col Roberts thanked officers from the Flying Squad for their assistance in the recovery of all nine firearms.
The three men appeared in the Germiston Regional Court on Monday.
Head of Edenvale SAPS Detectives, Colonel Ben Baloyi, confirmed that the men were denied bail and remanded in custody until their next appearance on August 14.
“One of the arrested men was charged with illegally dealing in firearms and the other two were charged with the possession of unlicensed firearms,” Col Baloyi said.
