GAUTENG – The South African Police Service (SAPS), supported by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), has arrested 1 149 suspects and seized 25 illegal firearms, 238 rounds of ammunition and a range of illicit goods during nationwide Operation Prosper in June.

The intelligence-driven operation forms part of an ongoing campaign to dismantle illegal mining syndicates, organised criminal networks and gang-related activities across South Africa.

According to SAPS, multidisciplinary teams carried out coordinated operations in several provinces throughout June, resulting in arrests for a wide range of serious offences.

The suspects face charges including illegal mining-related crimes, murder, attempted murder, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH), unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, unlawful possession of gold-bearing material, possession of suspected stolen property, contraventions of the Immigration Act and other serious offences.

Among those arrested were:

• Five suspects for murder.
• Five for attempted murder.
• 212 for drug-related offences.
• 12 for the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
• 10 for the unlawful possession of ammunition.
• 269 for contraventions of the Immigration Act.
• 13 for possession of suspected stolen property.
• 183 for the illegal dealing of liquor.

During the operations, law enforcement teams also recovered and confiscated a significant cache of weapons and other items linked to criminal activity.

The seizures included 25 illegal and unlicensed firearms—comprising handguns, a shotgun, homemade firearms and replica firearms—along with 238 rounds of ammunition, 11 magazines, 95 dangerous weapons, a recovered truck, gold-bearing material and quantities of drugs including dagga, Mandrax, heroin and Cat.

SAPS said Operation PROSPER continues to rely on intelligence-led policing to target organised criminal groups operating in illegal mining hotspots and areas affected by gang violence.

Police reaffirmed that joint operations involving SAPS, the SANDF and other law enforcement agencies will continue as authorities intensify efforts to disrupt organised crime, remove illegal firearms from communities and bring offenders to justice.

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