POLICE in the province recovered 74 unlicensed firearms and a total of 818 ammunition during a one-week Festive Season operation across the province. A total of 32 suspects were arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. The operation stretched between 16 December and 22 December in various parts of the province including areas such as Ulundi, Ezakheni, Bergville, Emanguzi, Mtubatuba, KwaKhutha, Nsuze and Port Edward. Police followed up information about illegal firearms across the province and raided few homesteads in various areas.
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They recovered 67 pistols, two shotguns, three rifles and two homemade firearms. All the recovered firearms will be taken for ballistic tests to establish if they were used in any other crimes in the province. Such operations will continue aiming to get rid of illegal firearms and reduce faction fights, stock theft, taxi related cases and other serious crimes. All arrested suspectshave appeared in various courts.
Police have appealed to communities to work together with police by sharing any information about illegal firearms in their areas. Community members can also make use of the Crime Stop number 08600 1011 for any information.
