Police in the Ladysmith Cluster arrested seven people for the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition on Wednesday, 10 September 2014.
The first four arrests came when members of the Ladysmith Vehicle Investigation Section (VIS) were conducting police activities related to tracing stolen vehicles. Members came across a vehicle standing alongside the road between Weenen and Colenso.
As the police officials approached the vehicle the occupants fled, but they were soon apprehended. Police officials discovered four unlicensed firearms and ammunition in the suspects’ possession. It is suspected that the four were on their way to commit a robbery when they were discovered by police. Police are investigating the possibility that they may be linked to other cases in the province.
Later that afternoon the Ladysmith K9 Unit were conducting policing activities in the Ekuvukeni area targeting firearm related crimes. Their activities resulted in three arrests at a homestead in the area. The first suspect was found with an unlicensed .38 revolver and ammunition in his possession, while another suspect was found with 52 live rounds of R1 ammunition. A third suspect was found in possession of an unlicensed Star pistol and ammunition.
The suspects appeared in the Colenso Magistrate’s Court and Ekuvukeni Magistrate’s Court yesterday 11 September 2014 on charges of the possession of an unlicensed firearm and the possession of unlicensed ammunition.
They were remanded in custody pending a new court date.
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni welcomed the successes achieved during the operation as a great success and thanked the police officers their crime-fighting efforts.
Crime as a Threat to Road Safety
