Domestic violence complaint leads to firearms and ammunition recovery

A 44-year-old man in KwaZulu-Natal is to appear in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court facing charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

Police Corporate Communications and Liaison Officer Lt Colonel Thulani Zwane said: “He was arrested by Phoenix police after the members attended a domestic violence complaint at Desert Palm Garden, Phoenix on New Year’s Day. All recovered firearms including rifles and pistols will be sent for ballistic tests to establish if they were used in any other crimes in the province.”

On 1 January 2017 at about 19:20 Phoenix police were called to attend to a domestic violence incident at Desert Palm Garden.

READ MORE: Two suspects arrested for unlicensed firearms

“While the members were solving the complaint, they received information that there were illegal firearms hidden in a ceiling of the house. The members immediately started to search the house and firearms, including rifles, shotguns and pistols, were found in a ceiling. The suspect was than arrested and charged with possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

“Large quantities of various ammunition were also recovered from the house. It is believed that the suspect at one stage worked for Gun Smith and it is not clear at this stage as to how he got hold of these firearms,” said Colonel Zwane.

The KwaZulu-Natal Acting Provincial Commander, Major General Bheki Langa, commended Phoenix members for recovering such firearms and arresting the suspect.

“I highly expressed my appreciation to the members who were alert and took necessary action in recovering these firearms. Our detectives will work closely with the Gun Smith where the suspect was working in establishing whether they knew anything about these firearms,” he said.

– Caxton News Service  

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