The Rapid Rail Police Unit from Visible Policing, deployed in Harrismith for special operations, has arrested five suspects from Mthatha in Eastern Cape for possession of three unlicensed firearms and 24 rounds of ammunition.

On 23 August 2021, the police members were conducting stop and searches at Emoyeni N3 Highway as part of heightened police visibility operations. The suspects were from Eastern Cape on their way to Gauteng Province driving in a Mini Cooper with KwaZulu-Natal registration plates. The suspects were ordered each to carry their own bags. Upon searching two of the bags, two firearms were found inside each two of bags with serial numbers. The third firearm was discovered hidden inside the vehicle with the serial numbers filed off.

The five suspects aged between 22 and 36 were arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition and the vehicle was seized as was it used to commit crime.

The five suspects are expected to appear before Harrismith Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 25 August 2021 facing charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition..

Source: South African Police Service