Guns, drugs and criminals were taken off iLembe’s streets last week in a string of co-ordinated police raids.

The operations, led by iLembe District police and supported by specialised units, targeted hotspots in several policing precincts and resulted in significant seizures of illegal firearms and narcotics.

On Tuesday, August 5, a 26-year-old man was arrested in the Glendale policing precinct after being found with a Norinco pistol with its serial number filed off, along with five live rounds of ammunition. Police intercepted the taxi he was travelling in shortly after he left a local tavern. He has been charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition, and has already appeared in the KwaDukuza Magistrates’ Court, where he was remanded in custody.

Two days later, on Thursday, a joint anti-drug operation in the KwaDukuza and Umhlali precincts led to the arrest of three men, aged between 25 and 57. In KwaDukuza, a 39-year-old was found with eight mandrax tablets, while a 57-year-old was caught with 19 pieces of rock cocaine and 15 sachets of crystal meth.

In the Umhlali precinct, a 25-year-old was arrested after police discovered seven sachets of crystal meth in his possession. All three will appear in court soon.

On Friday, August 8, the iLembe District Tactical Response Team (TRT) moved into the Nsuze policing precinct, arresting two men, aged 42 and 32, at separate homes in Chibini. Both were found in possession of 9mm pistols with serial numbers filed off, along with live ammunition. The older man had 15 rounds, while the younger had six. Both appeared in the Nsuze Court on firearm-related charges.

The week’s operations concluded on Sunday, August 10, when a 25-year-old man attempted to evade a police vehicle checkpoint in Maphumulo. After a brief chase, police found him trying to conceal his vehicle in nearby bushes. He was caught with an unlicensed firearm and six live rounds of ammunition and will soon appear in the Maphumulo Magistrates’ Court.

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