Over the weekend police arrested six men in possession of an unlicensed firearm and an attempted robber in two separate incidents.
Warrant Officer BA Khan said while officers from the Ladysmith Visible Police Unit were conducting patrols in the Hyde Park area, they came across a white Honda motor vehicle with six men inside. The officers pulled the vehicle over immediately.
“The occupants were searched. On searching the vehicle, officers discovered a 9mm pistol. The pistol’s serial number had been filed off. There were seven rounds of ammunition in the magazine of the pistol. No one took ownership for the firearm,” Khan said.
He said all of the men, aged between 28 and 39, were arrested and they were expected to make their first appearance in the Ladysmith Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
“They are charged with being in possession of an unlicensed firearm,” Khan said.
He added that the men would be profiled to ascertain whether they were involved in other crimes.
Meanwhile, on Saturday afternoon, police officers from the Estcourt Visible Policing Unit arrested a 36-year-old man who alongside another man was trying to gain entry to a business premises in the city centre.
“The guard flagged down officers who quickly chased the suspect who had a firearm tucked under his shirt. The chase ended in Industria Road, Estcourt, with the suspect being taken to hospital under police guard. He sustained a gunshot wound after attempting to disarm an officer. A toy pistol was recovered on the suspect,” Khan said.
“He will appear in front of a magistrate soon. He faces charges of pointing of a firearm as well as malicious damage to property.”
Daily News