A 42-year-old man has been arrested in Marite, Calcutta, after police recovered two illegal firearms believed to have been used in serious violent crimes in the area.

The arrest was made on Wednesday evening, 22 July 2026, following an intelligence-driven operation involving Crime Intelligence, the Tactical Response Team, K9 Unit, Public Order Policing and other SAPS units. Acting on information, officers searched the suspect’s home and recovered an automatic rifle, a pistol with filed-off serial numbers, and live ammunition.

The suspect was charged with possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. Police said the recovered weapons will undergo ballistic testing to determine whether they were used in previous crimes, while investigators will also establish whether the suspect is linked to other criminal cases.

Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi praised the officers for the successful operation, describing the seizure as a significant breakthrough in the fight against violent crime in Calcutta and surrounding communities.

In a separate incident on the same night, police opened a murder case after a man was found shot dead inside a vehicle in Marite. Investigators are working to determine whether the recovered firearms are linked to the killing.

The suspect is expected to appear in the Mkhuhlu Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 24 July 2026.