KEY POINTS
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TRT officers recovered two illegal firearms in Bhityi through intelligence-led operations.
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A 23-year-old and 39-year-old man were arrested on site.
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Ballistic testing will link the weapons to other crimes.
The success of police operations is improved by intelligence collection, which continues to be a major advantage for law enforcement’s efforts to confiscate unlicensed firearms.
TRT raids uncover illegal firearms in Bhityi residences
The Tactical Response Team (TRT) got reliable information on illicit firearms kept at Mpande, Bhityi, on Friday, May 9, 2025.
Armed with a search warrant and acting quickly, the TRT officers swooped upon the indicated premises in order to operationalize the information.
Officers guarded the perimeter and searched the house and adjacent land thoroughly after arriving at the first location.
Officers found an unregistered handgun and multiple rounds of ammunition hidden within a building compartment during the search.
A 23-year-old man was apprehended by authorities right away after they connected him to the unlawful possession of a pistol and ammunition.
The TRT police immediately moved on to a second location in Mpande that had also been suspected by intelligence of having another illegal firearm.
The officers quickly began searching the person of suspicion after discovering him standing outside his home when they arrived.
Another illegal handgun, a revolver, and ammo that the suspect had hidden on his body were found during the search.
The 39-year-old male was taken into custody by police on suspicion of illegally possessing ammunition and a prohibited handgun.
Ballistic tests to trace illegal firearms in Bhityi
Ballistic testing will be performed on both seized firearms to look for any possible links to previous crimes involving comparable weapons.
According to Saps, the goal of the investigation is to determine whether the firearms were used in violent crimes such as assaults and robberies in the Eastern Cape.
Findings from ballistics may also assist in determining whether these firearms are a part of a broader criminal or firearm trafficking network that is being investigated.
The successful operation demonstrates the South African Police Service’s continued dedication to removing dangerous and unlawful firearms from communities.
In order to share information that can result in significant arrests and the prevention of crime, authorities stress the value of community participation.
On Monday, May 12, 2025, the two suspects will appear in Bhityi Magistrate’s Court to face formal charges; they are still being held.
According to South African guns control laws, they will be charged with unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition.
