A 49-year-old man was arrested after a high-speed chase on the N12 freeway led to the discovery of two unlicensed firearms, ammunition and an undisclosed amount of cash.
The arrest followed an inter-provincial roadblock conducted by the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department K9, Intervention and Drug Enforcement Unit in Etwatwa on Friday 27 February at about 11.05am.
According to EMPD, officers attempted to stop a silver Volkswagen Jetta that approached the roadblock at high speed. The driver allegedly failed to stop and nearly knocked over several officers before speeding away. This triggered a high-speed chase.
The vehicle was eventually stopped at the Etwatwa off-ramp.
Officers searched the driver and the vehicle. They reportedly found a stack of cash, a firearm with a defaced serial number, a magazine and 10 live rounds of ammunition. A second firearm was later found hidden under the front seat. An empty magazine was also recovered.
Police said a grey bag containing an undisclosed amount of cash was found in the boot of the vehicle.
The South African Police Service Local Criminal Record Centre and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation were called to the scene to assist with further investigations.
The suspect, described as a foreign national, was detained at Springs police station. He faces charges of possession of suspected stolen property, possession of two unlicensed firearms, possession of unlicensed ammunition and attempted murder.
He is expected to appear soon in the Springs Magistrate’s Court.
