Durban authorities launch raid in Umlazi amid spike in hijackings, firearms and signal jammers seized
Firearms and signal-jamming devices recovered during an intelligence-driven joint operation by Durban Metro Police and SAPS Crime Intelligence in uMlazi.
Image: Durban Metro Police
In response to a rising trend in hijackings of municipal vehicles across parts of south Durban, the Durban Metro Police and SAPS Provincial Crime Intelligence carried out a coordinated intelligence-driven operation early Thursday morning.
A joint intelligence-driven operation led to the recovery of multiple firearms, ammunition and signal jammers believed to be linked to recent hijackings of municipal vehicles across eThekwini.
The municipality has recorded a spike in hijackings of its vehicles in areas including uMlazi, Folweni, KwaMakhutha, Umbumbulu and parts of the northern region in recent months.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, officers acted on verified intelligence and carried out an operation at the Emhlabeni Informal Settlement in Umlazi at around 1am.
Inside one of the targeted houses, officers found several signal jammers connected to power and charging. A further search of the premises uncovered a number of firearms and ammunition.
Items seized during the operation include:
- 9mm pistols
- A homemade revolver
- Magazines for firearms
- Live ammunition
- Multiple signal-jamming devices
- Personal identification items belonging to the suspect
Authorities confirmed that one of the recovered firearms has been positively linked to a previous hijacking incident involving a municipal vehicle. All recovered items were handed over to SAPS for further investigation.
Units involved in the operation included SAPS Provincial Crime Intelligence, the Durban Metro Police Tracing Unit and the Tracing and Investigations teams.
In a statement, Durban Metro Police stated that joint operations of this nature would continue as part of efforts to curb hijackings and clamp down on illegal firearms across the city.