NORTH WEST – A major Mothotlung illegal firearms seizure has resulted in the arrest of a 59-year-old man and the recovery of a significant cache of unlicensed weapons. The North West SAPS, leveraging targeted intelligence, successfully disrupted a suspected gun-running operation linked to ongoing community intimidation in the area.
The breakthrough occurred on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, when Mothotlung police, bolstered by specialized support from Brits Crime Intelligence and the Brits Tactical Response Team (TRT), acted on credible tips regarding armed individuals terrorizing local residents.
Investigators tracked a suspect to Extension 2 in Mothotlung, where he was observed operating a bakkie. Upon pulling the vehicle over, officers conducted a search and uncovered a 9mm CZ pistol alongside 15 rounds of live ammunition. The driver’s inability to provide a valid firearm license led to his immediate apprehension.
Following the initial arrest, law enforcement executed a search at the suspect’s Mothotlung residence. This secondary sweep yielded a substantial haul: two additional pistols, a rifle, a shotgun, and an assortment of live ammunition tailored for both handguns and rifles.
A SAPS spokesperson confirmed that detectives are actively pursuing further investigations to trace the origins of the confiscated weapons and assess any potential connections to wider criminal networks operating in the province.
The 59-year-old individual is currently being held in police custody. He faces formal charges of possessing unlicensed firearms and ammunition as outlined in the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000). He is scheduled to appear before the Brits Magistrate’s Court today, Thursday, 27 August 2026.
