An intelligence-driven operation was conducted over the weekend by the Public Order Police Task Team, Newcastle Cluster Task Team and Osizweni police. The team went to a certain house in Osizweni F section where an 18-year-old suspect was found in possession of two unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
The members proceeded to another house at Osizweni D section where they recovered two shotguns, three rifles and a total of 325 various assorted rounds of ammunition; four suspects were placed under arrest.
The recovered firearms will be subjected to ballistic testing to ascertain if they were used in the commission of any other crime in the country. The five suspects aged between 18 and 26 appeared in the Madadeni Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 19 February 2018 on charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. They were remanded in custody until 26 February 2018.
KwaZulu-Natal Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Bheki Langa praised the team for the recovery of illegal firearms. “These operations will continue throughout the province to eliminate the spread of illegal firearms that contribute to the commission of a crime and the loss of innocent lives. We will not hesitate to act against individuals who contravene the firearms control act,” he said.