Mandeni: Police in Mandeni have arrested five suspects who were found in possession of firearms and ammunition during an operation on Friday afternoon, 8 November 2024. Police were conducting a Vehicle Check Point (VCP) operation along the P459 Road in Mandeni when they stopped a white Toyota Avanza with five male occupants. Upon searching the vehicle, the occupants were found in possession of five pistols and several rounds of ammunition. Two firearms had their serial numbers erased.

According to South African Police Service, preliminary investigations revealed that one firearm belonged to a deceased licensed owner, another firearm was reported stolen in Ntuzuma in November 2020, whilst the other was also reported stolen in Sandton, Gauteng Province in June 2021.

The suspects, whose ages range between 23 and 31 years old, will appear in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 11 November 2024 on charges of possession of illegal firearms and ammunition, and possession of suspected stolen firearms.