TWO men were arrested at Durban Harbour on 12 November for bringing firearms into the harbour without a police escort.
Members from the Durban Harbour were on patrol when they received information of firearms on a boat.
According to Colonel Jay Naicker, the information received by police stated the firearms were brought into the port without police escort.
“This is in contravention of the Firearms Control Act as well as the guidelines signed off by the SAPS National Commissioner prescribing the operational procedures to be followed at any port,” he said.
A joint operation by Maydon Wharf Detectives, Maydon Wharf Vessel Profiling and SSA members was conducted which led to the search of a vessel. Four FN 308 rifles with 955 live rounds were seized. Two men, a skipper and his crew, were arrested for contravening the Firearms Control Act. Both suspects are due to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court soon.
The KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt Gen Mmamonnye Ngobeni commended police at the harbour for their vigilance.
“The proliferation of illegal firearms in this province is of great concern to us. We cannot allow firearms to enter our port illegally. Without checks and balances these firearms could end up on our streets,” she said.
