Police in the Ladysmith Cluster arrested seven people yesterday (Thursday, September 11) for unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
The first four arrests happened in the morning when officers attached to the Ladysmith Vehicle Investigation Section (VIS) were conducting police activities related to the tracing of stolen vehicles. They came across a vehicle parked at the side of the road between Weenen and Colenso. As the policemen approached the vehicle, the occupants fled, but they were soon apprehended.
The officers then found four unlicensed firearms and ammunition in the suspects’ possession. The suspects are aged 20, 25, 29 and 36. It is suspected that the four were on their way to commit a robbery. Police are investigating the possibility that they may be linked to other cases in the province.
Later that afternoon, the Ladysmith K9 Unit were conducting policing activities in the Ekuvukeni area targeting firearm related crimes. Their activities resulted in three arrests at a homestead in the area.
A 19-year-old suspect was found with an unlicensed .38 revolver and ammunition in his possession, while a 53-year-old suspect was found with 52 rounds of R1 ammunition, and the third suspect (aged 25) was found in possession of an unlicensed Star pistol and ammunition.
The suspects are set to appear in the Colenso Magistrate’s Court and Ekuvukeni Magistrate’s Court soon on charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and unlicensed ammunition.
