Four firearms, including two assault rifles, two pistols and a cache of ammunition, have been seized in Msinga following an operation by the Pietermaritzburg Public Order Police and Msinga police.

Police spokesman, Major Thulani Zwane, said the  intelligence-driven operation was to reduce the proliferation of illegal firearms at Msinga and surrounding areas.

They proceeded to Phakwe area where they arrested a 21-year-old man after he was found in possession of a pistol with a live round. Police proceeded to other homesteads in the area where they recovered two assault rifles, a pistol and an assortment of live rounds of ammunition.

All recovered firearms will be sent for ballistic testing to ascertain if they were used in the commission of crime. The arrested suspect will appear at Msinga Magistrates’ Court today. “We will continue to raid illegal firearms in this province and we appeal to the community to work together with the police in the fight against crime by providing information about illegal firearms in their areas,” Major Zwane said.