POLICE ranks are investigating the alleged discovery of a loaded firearm in a man’s pants waist, shortly after they heard a suspected gunshot near Leopold and Cross Streets, Werk-en-Rust, early Sunday morning.

According to the police, at about 01:30hrs, a cadet officer and a team of policemen from the Anti-Terrorism Unit from Police Headquarters were on mobile patrol duties in three GPF motor vehicles and whilst in the vicinity of Leopold and Cross Streets, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, they heard a loud explosion that sounded like a gunshot.

“The ranks saw an identifiable male of African descent dressed in long blue jeans and a coloured hoodie, running with what appeared to be a firearm in his hand and heading in a southern direction and into a fenced yard,” the police said, adding that ranks gave chase and managed to apprehend him.

“The suspect was searched and police found one 9MM Beretta pistol in his pants waist. The suspect was asked if he was the holder of a valid firearm licence and he said ‘no.’ He was told of the offence committed and cautioned, but he remained silent.

“The identifiable male was then arrested but he refused to give his name and particulars to the ranks.

“The suspect along with the firearm (and a magazine with 10 matching rounds of 9mm ammunition were escorted to the Ruimveldt Police Station where the firearm was dusted for fingerprints by crime scene ranks,” the police further said.

The suspect was later taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters where his hands were swabbed for gunpowder residue. He was later placed in custody pending further investigation.