Police have nabbed a 30-year-old Cape Flats man after discovering a stash of deadly weapons and explosives at his house.
Cops arrested the suspect in Agste Laan, Bishop Lavis, on Saturday afternoon, and confirmed the arrest was gang-related.
“Our stance to root out gang-related and violent crimes in the Western Cape has landed a 30-year-old suspect behind bars after he was apprehended in Bishop Lavis in possession of firearms, explosives and ammunition,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Andrè Traut.
He said the intelligence-driven operation, executed by the South African Police Service (SAPS) at the suspect’s home, resulted in the seizure of two firearms - a 9mm pistol and a 7.65mm pistol - 600 grams of PE4 explosives, six detonators, one safety fuse, a variety of ammunition of different calibres, a bulletproof vest, as well as firearm maintenance equipment.
The suspect is due to appear in the Bishop Lavis Magistrates’ Court today on various charges against him.
The suspect’s involvement in violent crimes perpetrated in gang-affected areas is also under investigation, Traut says.
ARSENAL: Detonators and explosives confiscated
In May this year, five women were arrested after an arms cache, which included a hand grenade, were discovered at their home in Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain.
Police found two shotguns, one M26 grenade, magazines as well as a large quantity of shotgun and R5 ammunition at the house.
According to the community, the arms could belong to a local gang.
And in April, six R4 rifles and 10 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition were stolen from a military base in Khayelitsha.
This was preceded by a highly explosive rocket launcher that was found in Kuils River last year.
Two suspects were arrested.
Last October, police were led to an underground vault in Valhalla Park where 250 police-issue firearms and ammo were being stored.
Top police sources have linked the weapons to convicted former cop Christiaan Prinsloo, who admitted to stealing SAPS firearms and ammunition destined for destruction and supplying the weapons to criminals - “primarily members of gangs on the Cape Flats”.