Africa-Press – Eswatini. South African Police Service (SAPS) officers have arrested three men who were enroute to Eswatini with five firearms and 57 rounds of ammunition.
The suspects, two of them aged 36 and one aged 33, were arrested by members of Middelburg Flying Squad between Wonderfontein and Alzu.
According to a media statement issued by Mpumalanga SAPS spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy
Mohlala, the police spotted the suspects who were travelling in a blue Toyota Corolla and they were turned on the N4 road unknowingly.
Mohlala said the vehicle was stopped and the trio was searched and three handguns were found in their possession.
He said the police continued to search intensely inside the car and further discovered an R1 assault rifle as well as an additional handgun.
“The recovered firearms are an R1 assault rifle, .38 special revolver, star norinco pistol, taurus pistol and Parabelum pistol coupled with 40 live rounds for an R1 assault rifle as well as 57 live rounds for a handgun. All suspects failed to produce firearm licenses and moreover all the firearms had their serial numbers filed off,” Mohlala said.
He stated that preliminary investigation by the police further revealed that the car they were travelling in was reported stolen in Witbank in November last year.
Suspects
He said the arrested suspects indicated that they were heading to the Kingdom of Eswatini before making a U-turn back to Witbank.
Adding, Mohlala stated that the firearms would undergo ballistic testing to determine if they were not used previously in the commission of crime hence more charges could be added against the suspects as the investigation continues.
Mohlala said the suspects were expected to appear in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court soon facing charges of illegal possession of firearms with ammunition, possession of suspected stolen vehicle as well as for possession of suspected stolen mobile phones.
He further relayed that Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela was overwhelmed by this great achievement.
“I am so delighted that our members managed to prevent possible armed robberies, possible heists as well as possible loss of lives. We are indeed paving a way for the residents to live in a secured and safe environment,” Manamela said.
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