A 41-year-old man was arrested by police in the Upper Tugela area on Saturday (June 20) for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

The arrest followed reports of gunshots in the Moyeni area.

Acting on information received, police conducted a follow-up operation and located a suspect matching the description provided by community members.

Firearms and ammunition recovered

During a search of the suspect and his premises, police recovered a 9mm pistol with 12 rounds of live ammunition, a rifle with five rounds of ammunition, and a shotgun with one round of ammunition that had been abandoned nearby.

Failure to produce valid licence

The man failed to provide a valid firearm licence or a lawful explanation for possessing the weapons. He was arrested and charged with possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. The ammo and recovered firearms were seized as evidence and form part of an ongoing investigation.

The suspect appeared in the Bergville Magistrate’s Court on Monday (June 22).

The SAPS has reiterated its commitment to removing illegal firearms from communities, and encouraged the public to continue providing information that assists in combating crime.

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