Trio to appear in court for illegal possession of drug and firearms

Three suspects of which one is regarded as the mastermind behind a spate of murders and extortion related offences perpetrated in and around Delft in recent weeks, have been brought to book and are expected to make their court appearances in the Bellville Magistrates’ court on Tuesday on charges related to the illegal possession of firearms and drugs.

Weeks of intricate investigation following the activation of the Delft police station’s informers network, culminated in a takedown operation conducted in the early hours of Friday morning when integrated forces simultaneously pounced on three hideaways of the grouping in Tsunami, Delft and surrounding policing precincts.

At the first address, members were greeted with gunfire, but fortunately, no one was hit. They proceeded tactically and penetrated the dwelling where they arrested a 35-year-old male suspect who was found in possession of a pistol and ammunition which were seized as evidence. At the second house they arrested another male suspect who is part of the grouping and found in his possession a R-5 rifle, magazine and rounds of ammunition. At the third house, they arrested a 37-year-old man who is believed to be the mastermind of the grouping involved in extortion related offences and other serious crime in the area. The members also seized a consignment of drugs that was found on the premises.

The firearms that were seized will be subjected to ballistic analyses to determine whether it had been used in the commission of serious offences, including that of murder, robberies and extortion.

The arrested trio between the ages 35 and 37 is expected to appear in the Bellville Magistrates’ court on Tuesday, 26 September 2023 on charges related to the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition as well as the illegal possession of drugs. The possibility that the trio could be linked to the commission of other crime and the murder of one of their own, forms part of continued investigation that is being conducted by the Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) detectives.

The Western Cape police management had nothing but praise for the well-executed takedown operation and commended all those members involved in bringing these wanted suspects who terrorised the community and business people for so long, to book.

Source: South African Police Service