Four arrested as illegal firearms and ammunition found in vehicle

Four men have been arrested after illegal firearms and a large quantity of ammunition were found in the vehicle they were driving in.

On Sunday, 1 November 2026, City Highway Patrol officers stopped a vehicle at the N2 weighbridge in Somerset West. They found four illegal firearms and ammunition within the vehicle.

The officers then arrested four of the five occupants and transported them to Somerset West Police Station. The fifth occupant reportedly fled the scene, per a media statement from the City of Cape Town.

INFLUX OF ILLEGAL FIREARMS ‘DEEPLY CONCERNING’

Alderman JP Smith, the mayoral committee member for Safety and Security, lauded the officers for their efforts on Sunday.

“I want to commend the Highway Patrol officers for their vigilance,” said Smith. “Their sharp observation skills led to more illegal guns being taken out of circulation, and possibly fewer crimes committed or lives destroyed.”

He continued: “The influx of weapons, including more and more automatic and semi-automatic assault rifles, remains deeply concerning, and it’s one of the reasons we have long called for better and more aggressive policing along the metro’s borders to curb the smuggling of firearms into the Metro.”

CITY ENFORCEMENT MAKES 199 ARRESTS

In this past week, the City of Cape Town’s enforcement departments made 199 arrests.

In addition to the Somerset West bust, these arrests include the detainment of 70 suspects by Traffic Officers. Fifty-three were for drunk driving, seven were for reckless and negligent driving, and ten were on other charges. Officers executed 2 076 warrants, impounded 118 public transport vehicles and issued 46 511 fines.

On the Metro Police front, they arrested 105 suspects. They also recovered eight hijacked and/or stolen vehicles, four firearms and 63 rounds of ammunition and issued 4 445 fines for various transgressions.

As for Law Enforcement officers, they made 24 arrests and issued 7 405 notices.

Members of the public are encouraged to report incidents, emergencies or suspicious/criminal activities to the Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700. Alternatively, you can log by-law and traffic-related complaints using the Safety and Security feature on the City App.

In other Cape Town news, an eight-year-old Grade 1 learner has passed away following a suspected firecracker incident in Manenberg.