Durban - Police in KwaZulu-Natal have arrested two people and recovered six firearms as well as hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Jay Naicker said in a statement on Tuesday: “In the early hours of this morning, an intelligence driven operation by the Pietermaritzburg Public Order Police, Msinga Visible Policing and Greytown Crime Intelligence led to the arrest of two suspects and recovery of six firearms as well 483 live rounds of ammunition at Msinga.
“A 41-year-old female was arrested at Phakwe area after she was found with two 303 rifles at her residence. Police proceeded to Mkhuphula area where an AK47 rifle with two live rounds of ammunition was found and a 20-year-old male was arrested.
“At KwaNdaye area, a revolver, 303 rifle, 308 rifle and 483 live rounds of ammunition were found abandoned. Both suspects were detained at Msinga police station and were charged for possession of unlicensed firearms. They are appearing in Msinga Magistrates’ Court today.”
In a another operation on May 8, Port Shepstone Public Order Police arrested an 18-year-old male at Luphepheni location in St Faiths after he was found in possession of three rifles.
Naicker said: “Police seized an AK47 rifle, a shotgun and an automatic rifle with its serial numbers filed off. He was arrested and charged for possession of unlicensed firearms. He appeared at Port Shepstone Magistrates Court yesterday. All the recovered firearms will be sent for ballistics examinations to establish if they were used in the commission of any crimes.”
Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant Mmamonnye Ngobeni said: “We will continue with operations of this nature under the banner of Operation Fiyela so that we can address the proliferation of firearms and make this province a safer place for our citizens. We will also ensure that those arrested are profiled to see if they can be linked to other cases of serious crime that we are investigating.”
ANA