MANZINI – The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) destroyed 88 firearms on Thursday during an operation at the Matsapha Police Academy to mark International Gun Destruction Day.
The exercise, which took place on July 9, involved the destruction of shotguns, pistols, rifles, and homemade devices. According to police, the weapons consisted of pieces seized during various operations, malfunctioning firearms, and exhibits from court cases that have been finalised.
To ensure the weapons were permanently rendered inoperable, technicians utilised an industrial cutting machine to sever critical components. This method prevents the firearms from being reconstructed or restored to a firing condition, reducing them entirely to scrap metal.
The operation forms part of the kingdom’s compliance with international protocols and programmes aimed at combating the proliferation of illicit weapons. Law enforcement agencies globally utilise weapon destruction as a primary measure to safely dispose of confiscated, surrendered, and illegal firearms.
