- Police have found firearms, ammunition and explosives at a flat in Johannesburg.
- They were led to the weapons after arresting an alleged drug dealer.
- Among the weapons recovered were two AK-47 rifles, an LM5 rifle and three shotguns.
An investigation into drug dealing has led Johannesburg police to a cache of firearms, ammunition and explosives.
Officers of the Johannesburg Central Crime Intelligence Unit followed up on a tip-off about alleged drug dealing at a residential complex in Winchester Hills, police spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters said.
"The team spotted the two vehicles of interest pull up next to each other in the parking lot at the complex and executed a take-down, arresting one suspect after witnessing a transfer of unknown parcels from one vehicle to the other. The second suspect fled and evaded arrest," Peters said.
Further investigation led police to a flat, where they found two AK-47 rifles, an LM5 rifle, three shotguns, two Ruger rifles and a revolver. Bulletproof vests, security dashboard lights, ammunition, teargas, smoke canisters and a practice hand grenade were also seized.
"After processing the scene, [it was] confirmed that the parcels that were moved between the suspects' vehicles contained an undisclosed amount of cash suspected to be the proceeds of drug sales, as well as five bags of which the contents will be determined pending forensic analysis," Peters said.
The 30-year-old suspect, from Sunnyside, Pretoria will appear in court in due course.
"The recovery of such high calibre firearms suggests that the suspects could be involved in much more than just drug-related crime. The investigating team must leave no stone unturned towards apprehending the suspect and their accomplices, as we believe that more suspects may be involved," Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela said.