Three suspects aged between 30 and 44 have been arrested after police recovered four firearms and 22 rounds of ammunition during an intelligence-driven operation in Stulwane, Bergville, in the early hours of Wednesday, 7 October 2026. The operation was carried out by members of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Drugs and Firearms Unit together with officers from Upper Tugela police station. Police said the operation targeted armed suspects allegedly involved in cross-border criminal activities, including livestock theft.
During the operation, officers recovered a shotgun with four rounds of ammunition, a .38 revolver with seven rounds, a homemade firearm with three rounds and a 6.35 pistol with eight rounds. The recovery brought the total number of firearms seized to four, with 22 rounds of ammunition found in the suspects’ possession. The three men were subsequently arrested and charged with possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
The situation became tense after the arrests when some community members allegedly demanded that the suspects be released. Police said officers managed to tactically manoeuvre away from the area with the arrested suspects while ensuring the safety of both police members and the detainees. No further details about the confrontation were provided.
The arrests form part of police efforts to target the illegal possession and use of firearms in the area, particularly where intelligence points to suspected links with criminal activities. The recovered firearms and ammunition will form part of the ongoing investigation as police work to establish the circumstances surrounding their possession and whether the weapons are linked to other offences.
The three suspects were due to appear in the Bergville Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, where they are expected to face the charges against them. The allegations have not been tested in court, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Four Arrested After Suspected Mandrax Laboratory Uncovered Near Hartbeespoort
Four people have been arrested after police uncovered what is believed to be a drug manufacturing laboratory on a property in Skeerpoort, near Hartbeespoort in the North West.
The arrests were made on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, during an intelligence-driven operation involving members of the Hartbeespoortdam SAPS Crime Prevention Unit, Brits Crime Intelligence and the Hartbeespoortdam K9 Unit.
The suspects are a 39-year-old Zimbabwean man and three women aged between 23 and 29. Police have not disclosed the nationalities of the three women.
According to information released following the operation, police had received intelligence concerning suspected illegal activities taking place at the property in Skeerpoort. The information was shared with specialised police units before officers proceeded to the premises to verify the allegations.
Police arrived at the property during the morning and found the four suspects on the premises.
A subsequent search led to the discovery of what appeared to be a drug laboratory. Police found processed drugs, raw materials and a mixture allegedly used in the production of drugs, together with equipment believed to have been used to manufacture the substances.
The operation also resulted in the seizure of four firearms. These included one rifle and three handguns, along with ammunition.
Further information released about the seizure indicates that police recovered approximately 24,000 processed Mandrax tablets believed to have been ready for distribution. Officers also seized a large quantity of raw material used in drug production, as well as a commercial-grade tablet press and different dies used to produce various types of tablets.
The discovery has raised concerns about the scale of the alleged operation. North West Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Arthur Peter Adams attended the scene and said the setup at the property suggested that the drugs manufactured there may have been distributed more widely.
Police are also investigating how long the alleged drug manufacturing operation had been taking place at the property. Information concerning the lease of the premises has led investigators to suspect that the activities may have been ongoing for an extended period.
The four suspects face charges relating to the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, as well as dealing in and manufacturing drugs in terms of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act.
They are expected to appear in the Brits Magistrate’s Court. The specific date of their first court appearance had not yet been announced.
Police are continuing with the investigation and are working to establish the full extent of the alleged drug manufacturing operation. Authorities are also determining the value of the drugs and other materials seized during the raid.
The latest operation comes amid continued police efforts in the North West to identify and dismantle facilities allegedly involved in the manufacture and distribution of illicit drugs.
#sapsHQ [HARTBEESPOORTDAM POLICE SEIZE FOUR FIREARMS AND UNCOVER DRUG LABORATORY] Four suspects were arrested and four firearms, including a rifle and three handguns, were seized following an intelligence-driven operation at a plot in Scheerpoort, close to Hartbeespoortdam, on Tuesday, 6 October 2026. Hartbeespoortdam SAPS Crime Prevention members received information regarding suspected illegal activities at the property, and the information was subsequently shared with Brits Crime Intelligence and Hartbeespoortdam K9 for further intelligence gathering and verification. Upon arrival at the identified address this morning, members found three females and one male. A search of the premises uncovered what appeared to be a drug laboratory, with processed drugs, a drug production mixture and equipment allegedly used in the manufacturing of drugs. The four suspects, a 39-year-old Zimbabwean national male and three females aged between 23 and 29, were arrested and charged with possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, as well as dealing and manufacturing of drugs in terms of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, 1992 (Act No. 140 of 1992). The suspects are expected to appear before the Brits Magistrates’ Court soon. Police investigations into the matter and to determine the value of the seized drugs are continuing. #fightingcrime #TrioCrimes #DrugsOffTheStreets #GunsOffTheStreets SG https://t.co/J23tGKCskF
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) October 6, 2026
All four suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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