A 35-year-old taxi passenger who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol has been arrested after he was found in the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition in Barkley East in the Joe Gqabi District of the Eastern Cape.
Police spokesperson, Captain Khaya Tonjeni, says members were conducting a stop and search when they flagged down the taxi which was en route to Welkom from Matatiele on Tuesday.
He says the taxi driver then indicated that he was experiencing a problem with a drunk and disorderly passenger.
Tonjeni says the man was requested to get out of the taxi van and upon searching him they found the unlicensed firearm which had its serial number filed off.
He was further not able to provide any ownership of the weapon and was arrested, while the firearm was sent to ballistics to determine if it had been used in earlier crimes.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Aliwal North Magistrate's Court on Thursday.
