Five men suspected of illegal mining were arrested by EMPD Tracing Unit members on Saturday.
They were arrested near Gugulethu Informal Settlement at 10.30am.
One unlicenced firearm and seven live rounds of ammunition were confiscated.
In a routine morning patrol, the EMPD Tracing Unit members noticed a suspicious-looking Toyota Corolla with five male occupants.
Spokesman for the EMPD, Wilfred Kgasago, says the vehicle was stopped and on searching the vehicle and its occupants, the officials found an unlicenced 9mm Norinco pistol on a foreigner.
The other four foreigners could not produce their passports and were taken in on suspicion of being in the country illegally.
The five suspects, aged between 20 and 32, are suspected to be involved in the illegal mining and mining turf faction-fighting in the area.
The suspects were charged at Springs Police Station.
