POLICE have recovered 329 firearms, 20 of which were homemade, as well as 23 rifles and 5 046 rounds of ammunition during operations in KwaZulu-Natal in September.
Colonel Robert Netshiunda, a provincial police spokesperson, said the search for wanted suspects resulted in the arrest of 168 suspects for murder and another 214 suspects were nabbed for attempted murder.
He said 47 suspects were arrested for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
"One hundred and fifty five suspects were arrested for robberies, including robbery with aggravating circumstances, business and house robberies, and car and truck jacking. We also arrested 77 suspects for intimidation."
He said in addition, police arrested 203 suspects for rape, seven for attempted rape, and 243 suspects for transgression of the Domestic Violence Act.
"The abuse of alcohol continues to be a major contributing factor in the cases of assault. We arrested 1 480 suspects for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. In the same breath, 528 people were arrested for illegal dealing in liquor. There were 60 people, who were arrested for drinking in a public space and 75 more people were arrested for being drunk in a public space."
He added that 29 suspects were arrested for the theft of stock.