A 45-year-old man has been arrested after police recovered five firearms, more than 3000 rounds of ammunition, drugs and over R200 000 in cash from his home in Effingham, north of Durban.

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Crime Prevention officers from Greenwood Park were conducting routine patrols on Thursday, August 27, when they received information about a man allegedly selling drugs.

Acting on the tip-off, officers went to the identified address and found the suspect inside the house.

A search of the property led to the seizure of a rifle, a shotgun and three handguns, along with 3196 rounds of ammunition of various calibres.

Police said 1100 of the rounds were ammunition for an AK-47 assault rifle.

Officers also found mandrax tablets, cocaine and more than R200 000 in cash.

The man was arrested and charged with the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, as well as possession and dealing in drugs. He is expected to appear in court soon.

KZN Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Phumelele Makoba praised the officers for acting swiftly on information received from the community.

She said effective crime prevention depended on building a network of trusted informers who were willing to alert police to criminal activity.

“Police must earn the trust of communities by acting decisively on tip-offs from community members,” Makoba said.

She also praised the officers for paying attention to concerns raised by residents rather than simply patrolling the streets.

“The removal of five firearms from society will prevent violent crimes which could have been committed using those guns,” she said.

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