CRIME SCENE: KwaZulu-Natal: The Sout African Police Service (SAPS) have discovered a small arms cache and a arrested a 42-year-old suspect.

The suspect was arrested during the early hours of Tuesday, 04 August 2026 at Bahulazi Reserve in Nhlanhleni, KwaZulu-Natal for the possession of seven unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

The arrest follows an intelligence-driven operation conducted by the Umzinyathi District Crime Intelligence Unit and the Newcastle Public Order Policing (POP) Unit, after police received information about the firearms. The suspect is also alleged to have hired out firearms to individuals linked to stock theft-related crimes.

Police conducted a search of the premises and recovered three rifles (a .303 rifle, a Mosin-Nagant rifle and a SKS 7.62 rifle) as well as four pistols

All recovered firearms will be subjected to ballistic examination to determine whether they were used in the commission of any other crimes within the country.

The District Commissioner of Umzinyathi, Major General Francis Slambert, commended the members involved in the successful operation and said they would not tolerate unlicensed firearms being in the hands of criminals.