DURBAN – Police Officers from the Newcastle Public Order Police Unit Task Team conducted an operation in the Amangwe near Estcourt on the night of 8 January 2020.
The team followed up information about the suspects in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. They swooped on two separate households in the Injisuthu area. A 58-year-old suspect was arrested after he was found in possession of an AK 47 with 26 rounds of ammunition.
The team went to another homestead where a 35-year-old suspect was placed under arrested after he was found in possession of a 9mm pistol with seven rounds of ammunition. The recovered firearms will be subjected to ballistic testing. Both suspects were charged for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. They appeared yesterday in the Estcourt Magistrates’ Court. They were remanded in custody until 15 January 2020 for a formal bail application.
“We are appealing to community members to continue assisting the police to remove illegal firearms in our province. These firearms contribute to the commission of serious and violent crimes, as well as firearm-related crimes,” said the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula.