KZN police arrest suspects linked to illegal weapons
Police arrest five men and seize multiple illegal firearms during coordinated KZN operations.
Police arrested five men, aged between 34 and 70, for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition during separate operations in the Melmoth and Nkandla areas on Tuesday.
Ulundi POP targets suspects in Thubalethu area
The arrests followed an intelligence-driven operation by Ulundi Public Order Policing (POP) in the Thubalethu area near Melmoth. Officers moved in after receiving reliable information about two men suspected of keeping illegal firearms. At the first house, police recovered a stripped shotgun. A 35-year-old foreign national who was inside the home could not produce documentation allowing him to possess the firearm and he was arrested on the spot.
Second Melmoth raid uncovers more shotguns
Police then proceeded to the second identified house, where they found two shotguns, one being double-barrel. A 34-year-old was arrested and is expected to be linked to murder cases currently under investigation in the Melmoth area.
Parallel Nkandla operation nets assault rifle
In a parallel operation on the same day, the King Cetshwayo District Essential Infrastructure Task Team, supported by private security, targeted the Ohlelo area under the Nkandla policing precinct. A 70-year-old was arrested after officers found an unlicensed AK-47 assault rifle.
Further arrests and ammunition seizures
The team then moved to Nxamalala, where they arrested a 48-year-old in possession of an unlicensed shotgun and 48 rounds of ammunition.
R5 rifle recovered in final arrest
The final arrest was made when officers found a 52-year-old in possession of an unlicensed R5 rifle and 13 rounds of ammunition. All firearms have been sent for ballistic testing.
Police confirm operations aimed at reducing violent crime
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza confirmed the arrests and said the successful operations formed part of ongoing efforts to remove illegal firearms from communities and clamp down on violent crime.
The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.
