SUCCESSFUL SEIZURE OF ILLEGAL FIREARM AND CASH IN ZASTRON ROADBLOCK

Seized firearm and money

By: Neo Ntsele

In a collaborative effort to bolster border security and curb illegal activities, Operation Shanela II, a multi-disciplinary joint operation, achieved noteworthy results on the R726 near Zastron.

On Monday, June 8, 2026, at approximately 12:00, law enforcement agencies established a significant roadblock on the R726.

This integrated operation involved various specialized units, including the Anti-Gang Unit (Bloemfontein),

K9 Unit (Welkom), South African National Defence Force (SANDF), Public Order Policing (Bloemfontein), Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit (Bloemfontein), local members from Zastron SAPS, Stock Theft Unit (Wepener), and the Department of Home Affairs.

During the roadblock, officers stopped a suspicious orange VW vehicle with three occupants, two men and one woman.

Officers requested to search the vehicle, leading to an unexpected discovery.

Inside, they found a brown school bag containing a pair of shoes.

Hidden within one of the shoes was a brown and silver revolver, fully loaded with five rounds of live ammunition.

A further search of the vehicle revealed a large, unexplained amount of cash concealed inside a brown jacket.

The suspects were unable to provide a valid license for the firearm.

Consequently, the 31-year-old male driver and the 23-year-old female passenger were immediately arrested.

They face charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, as well as money laundering.

Investigations are ongoing to trace the origin of the firearm and the cash, and to ascertain if the suspects are linked to other crimes in the province.

The suspects are expected to appear in the Zastron Magistrate’s Court soon.