Sitilo – Four men have been arrested following a police operation targeting illegal firearms in the Sitilo area under the Lavumisa policing zone.
The Royal Eswatini Police Service said the arrests were made on December 18 2025 during intelligence led operations carried out in the early morning and later in the day. Officers acted on information pointing to the presence of unlicensed firearms within the community.
At about 0500 hours, police raided a residence in Sitilo where three men aged 21, 20 and 21 were found inside the house. The suspects are from Water Pass in South Africa, Pongola and Sitilo. A 9mm pistol and eighteen live rounds of ammunition were recovered during the search.
Police further linked the 21 year old suspect from Water Pass to an armed robbery reported at Siphofaneni on May 9 2025. Investigations into that case are ongoing.
A follow up operation was conducted at around 1230 hours the same day, leading to the arrest of a 26 year old man from Kanyamazane in South Africa. He was also found inside a house in Sitilo and allegedly in possession of a 9mm pistol with six live rounds of ammunition. He faces a charge of possessing a firearm and ammunition without a licence or permit.
Police said the operation forms part of ongoing efforts to curb the circulation of illegal firearms, which are often linked to violent crime and threats to public safety. The Royal Eswatini Police Service said it remains committed to suppressing crime and ensuring that those who break the law are brought before the courts.
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