Eight men are set to appear in court after police found them in possession of illegal firearms, South African Police Service (SAPS) uniforms, and SAPS-issued bulletproof vests during an operation in Jozini, northern KwaZulu-Natal.

The suspects, aged 29 to 55, were arrested on Thursday afternoon after a vigilant local reported a suspicious Mercedes Benz with eight occupants “making rounds” in town.

Acting on the tip-off, police conducted a swift stop-and-search operation, quickly locating and stopping the vehicle in Jozini Town.

KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda reported that officers discovered three firearms inside the vehicle, each with its serial number filed off, along with several rounds of ammunition.

They also found pieces of police uniforms, including a bulletproof vest traced back to SAPS in Vryburg, North West.

The vehicle was seized for further investigation.

This incident follows a separate operation in Mahlabathini on Wednesday, where two suspected hitmen were killed in a shoot-out with police while allegedly on their way to assassinate a taxi boss.