A multi-agency police operation in Mpumalanga has resulted in the confiscation of illegal firearms and the arrest of four men following an early morning tactical raid on Sunday, June 8, 2026.
The dawn operation, which unfolded at approximately 01:30, was the culmination of an investigation triggered by the theft of a Toyota Hilux GD-6 in Mzinti on May 29, 2026. While initial tracking efforts failed to recover the stolen vehicle, sustained intelligence gathering eventually pinpointed the likely location of individuals connected to the incident.
Acting on this breakthrough, a collaborative unit comprising the Provincial Anti-Hijacking Task Team, Tonga Visible Policing (VISPOL), Crime Intelligence, and Tonga Detectives moved in. Upon tactically approaching and searching the suspects in the Ehlanzeni District, officers uncovered a cache of illegal weapons.
Police seized four pistols with filed-off serial numbers, alongside 30 rounds of live ammunition.
The four suspects, ranging in age from 22 to 42, were immediately taken into custody. They have been formally charged with the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition and are scheduled to make their first appearance at the Tonga Magistrate’s Court shortly.
Law enforcement authorities have confirmed that the probe remains active. Detectives are currently working to establish whether the confiscated firearms were utilized in other criminal enterprises across the province.