Suspects arrested at ‘cleansing ceremony’ near Ulundi
The joint intelligence-driven operation led to the seizure of illegal weapons
THE KwaZulu-Natal police’s resolve to curb illegal firearms in the province reaped results last week during an intelligence-driven operation in Ulundi.
Local police, together with the Tactical Response Team, K9 Unit and Public Order Police, arrested 12 suspects, aged between 23 and 46, and seized 12 firearms and an assortment of ammunition.
When community members reported suspicious activities at a homestead in the KwaGqikazi area, police immediately responded.
They stormed the homestead, taking the men by surprise, and seized a stolen vehicle as well as six AK47 rifles, two Luger rifles, a R5 rifle, a revolver and two pistols.
More than 120 rounds of ammunition were also recovered.
Initial investigations indicate that one of the pistols was taken during a robbery at a Vryheid business earlier this month, while the vehicle was stolen from Diepkloof in February.
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Indications are that they were in the area to undergo a ‘cleansing ceremony’ for crimes they had committed.
Detectives are confident they will be linked to a number of high profile murders and robberies committed in the province recently.
‘Their firearms will be subjected to ballistic tests to ascertain if they were used in the commission of any crimes.
‘We wish to extend our gratitude to the community who shared their suspicions with the police.
‘It is only through this type of community participation that we can win the war on crime,’ said the KwaZulu-Natal Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Bheki Langa.
