Five suspects aged between 34 and 70 have been arrested in northern KwaZulu-Natal for the illegal possession of high-calibre firearms and ammunition. Police say the arrests were made during separate intelligence-driven operations in the Melmoth and Nkandla policing precincts.
According to KZN police spokesperson Paul Magwaza, one of the suspects a foreign national was unable to provide documentation allowing him to possess the firearm found in his possession. He was subsequently arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.
Magwaza said all recovered firearms will undergo ballistic testing to determine whether they were used in any criminal activity.
During the operation, officers first arrested a 34-year-old suspect after discovering two shotguns in his possession, one being a double-barrel. Police believe he may be linked to murder cases in the Melmoth area.
In Nkandla, a 70-year-old man was found with an unlicensed AK-47 assault rifle. The final arrest involved a 52-year-old suspect in possession of an unlicensed R5 rifle and 13 rounds of ammunition.
All suspects are expected to appear in court as investigations continue.