KNYSNA NEWS - As part of ongoing efforts to combat and eradicate crime in the Garden Route, police carried out weekend operations from Thursday to Sunday, 7 to 10 April.

These operations led to the seizure of a shotgun in Concordia on Friday 8 April.

According to Southern Cape police spokesperson Captain Malcolm Pojie, Knysna police detectives acted on information received from the public and retrieved the semi-automatic shotgun near a dam in Concordia.

"Preliminary investigation indicates that the gun which belongs to a farmer based in Bloemfontein, was stolen two years ago and the owner was not even aware of it," Pojie said. 

"He also faces a charge of the negligent loss of a firearm. The firearm will be sent for ballistic tests.

"No arrests have been made in connection with the find. Knysna police appeal to anyone with information to contact the Knysna detectives on 044 3026600."

Garden Route crime

Further afield, deployments of police forces across the Garden Route ensured that 340 suspects were arrested. 

Of these, 239 were for reported crime committed during the three-day period and eight were people for whom warrants of arrest had been issued.

"The total arrests represent various criminal offences, ranging from petty to more serious offences," Pojie said.

"The weekend's operations included high visibility blue light patrols in crime-stricken areas, stop and search operations with a special focus on drug and liquor outlets, illegal firearms, the tracing of wanted suspects and the confiscation of dangerous weapons. 

Most of the arrested suspects will make their court appearance in the local magistrate's courts [this week], once charged."

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