Acting on solid information, authorities detained two armed suspects and confiscated a pair of unlicensed pistols over the weekend. The bust stems from an ongoing push targeting illegal weapons in high-risk areas.
“The province is working round the clock to remove firearms from the wrong hands,” said Lt. Gen. Semakaleng Manamela, Provincial Police Commissioner.
Officers uncovered a .38 calibre and a 9mm Norinco in the possession of two men, ages 19 and 23, during a 4 AM raid Sunday in the Osloop suburb of Piet Retief. Neither individual could produce gun licenses.
Further investigation found the Chinese-made Norinco was stolen at gunpoint back on November 12th from its original owner. The serial number on the .38 was also filed down to obstruct tracking.
“Recovering these crime guns makes the community safer,” said Captain Timothy Ndlovu, who headed the operation. “We will trace their history and likely ties to other incidents.”
Ballistics testing may link the pistols to additional shootings as authorities deepen the ongoing probe. Both seized firearms are being sent for analysis while the suspects who harboured them remain under arrest.
The pair of accused, nabbed thanks to intelligence relayed by community members, face a magistrate judge Tuesday on weapons possession counts initially. But officials warn expanded charges could develop as the fast-moving investigation unfurls.
