ZASTRON – Two people were arrested after law enforcement officers discovered an unlicensed firearm and unexplained cash during a roadblock on the R726 near Zastron on Monday.

Operation Shanela II, a multi-agency border security operation, was conducted at approximately 12:00 on 8 June 2026. The roadblock brought together the Anti-Gang Unit (Bloemfontein), K9 Unit (Welkom), South African National Defence Force, Public Order Policing (Bloemfontein), Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit (Bloemfontein), Zastron SAPS local members, Stock Theft Unit (Wepener) and the Department of Home Affairs.

Officers stopped an orange Volkswagen carrying three occupants – two males and one female. During a search of the vehicle, members found a brown school bag containing a pair of shoes. A brown and silver revolver, fully loaded with five rounds of live ammunition, was hidden inside one of the shoes.

A further search revealed a large sum of cash concealed inside a brown jacket in the vehicle.

The occupants could not produce a valid licence for the firearm. The driver, a 31-year-old male, and a female passenger (23) were arrested on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, as well as money laundering.

Police are investigating the origin of the firearm and cash, and whether the suspects are linked to other crimes in the province.

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

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