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Media Statement NELSPRUIT – Members of the Police from Middelburg Flying Squad arrested Elias Antonio Macie (43), who is a Mozambican national in possession of an unlicensed hunting rifle and he appeared at the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court on 11 March 2024. According to information, on Friday night, 08 March 2024, the men and women in Blue from Middelburg Flying Squad were busy performing their patrol duties along the N4 Road (next to Alzu) around 22:30 when they spotted a white Ford Ranger with Gauteng registration number plates. They then stopped the vehicle and conducted a search. It was during this period when they found a hunting rifle without ammunition inside the said vehicle. What was even interesting was that the serial number of the firearm was filed off. The man did not have a valid licence for the weapon. It is further reported that he claimed the said rifle belonged to his friend and he collected it in Nelspruit. He was charged for possession of unlicensed firearm and the vehicle was also confiscated for further investigation. The seized weapon will be taken for ballistic testing to determine any linkages to the commission of crime elsewhere. The investigators are working in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs to ascertain his status in the country due to the fact that he failed to produce a passport during his arrest. At this stage, Police cannot rule out the possibility of adding further charges against him as the investigation continues. During his court appearance, the case was postponed to 18 March 2024 for a bail application. The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, has indicated that the suspect’s arrest as well as the recovery of the firearm demonstrates the determination of the Police to reduce the levels of crime. “Our main aim is to ensure that members of the public are safe and protected from crime. We therefore do everything in our power to achieve that. The proliferation of firearms remains our challenge but we are doing our utmost best to tackle this issue hence we make arrests of this nature. We hope members of the public can see our efforts, “said the General. Ends
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