Actonville and Crystal Park police were among those who scored notable successes during a weekend crime blitz that saw more than 270 suspects arrested across Ekurhuleni.

The arrests were made during Operation Shanela II, an ongoing multi-disciplinary law-enforcement operation conducted across Ekurhuleni from August 28 to 30.

The operation targeted priority crimes, illegal firearms and other criminal activities, with police also shutting down two illegal shebeens and removing two unlicensed firearms from circulation.

Suspect traced

In Actonville, police, acting on information from concerned community members, arrested a man wanted in connection with a murder case in Bramley dating back to February 2018.

Actonville Crime Prevention members followed up the information on Friday and traced the suspect to an address in Wattville.

A search of the suspect allegedly led to the discovery of a firearm hidden in the pocket of his jacket.

Police said the firearm had no serial number, with the identifying number having been filed off.

The suspect was arrested and taken to the Actonville police station for detention.

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Child shot

Actonville police recorded another significant firearm-related arrest on Saturday after a 30-year-old man allegedly randomly fired shots, injuring an eight-year-old child.

The child was taken to a clinic before being referred to hospital, while the suspect was arrested on a charge of attempted murder.

Firearm seized

In Crystal Park, police conducting stop-and-search operations on Friday night intercepted a sky-blue Toyota Corolla carrying five occupants, including the driver.

A search of the occupants allegedly resulted in one of them being found in possession of a firearm.

The suspect was arrested and taken to the Crystal Park police station for detention.

Ekurhuleni District Commissioner Major General Anna Sithole commended police members for their continued efforts to combat crime and particularly their swift response to the proliferation of unlicensed firearms.

Sithole said the operations demonstrated that criminals would not be given space to hide in Ekurhuleni.

The weekend operations form part of the police’s broader efforts to stamp the authority of the state and address priority crimes across the district.

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