Police received a tip-off that the four suspects were using a house in the town of Westville North, near the eastern city of Durban, to hide a shipment of guns that had been illegally routed through Durban's harbour and was on its way to Somalia, said spokesman Vincent Mdunge.

"When the officers raided the house, about 13 long arms, including assault rifles, shotguns and .380 rifles with telescopic capabilities, were recovered. Four suspects were then arrested," Mdunge told AFP.

"Our preliminary investigation has proved that the firearms were destined for Somalia for the prevention of piracy along the coastline," he added.

"They were illegally re-routed into South Africa through the Durban harbour, and that is how they were recovered."

Mdunge said he could not give details on the origin of the guns or to whom they were being shipped as investigations were still on.

He said the four suspects -- a 39-year-old man, a 28-year-old woman and two 20-year-old women -- were released on bail and due back in court on February 7. They face charges of possessing unlicensed firearms and violating South Africa's gun control law.

Somali pirates have hijacked 45 vessels and taken a total of 948 hostages this year in the waters off the war-wracked Horn of Africa state, according to the International Chamber of Commerce's International Maritime Bureau (IMB).

The IMB estimates there are currently holding 25 ships and 586 hostages.

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