BY: LETHABO MATHOLE
Police intercepted a courier company bakkie and a private Toyota bakkie with six armed suspects who were allegedly en route to commit a robbery in Sandton.
“The suspects were found in possession of two rifles and three pistols loaded with live rounds of ammunition,” said Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo.
According to a police spokesperson, they received information about a gang planning to commit a robbery around Johannesburg, using a marked courier truck.
“Members from the Johannesburg Flying Squad kept observation and spotted the two vehicles matching the description given, traveling on the N1 South. The police followed the suspects until on M1 South in Sandton, where they stopped the vehicles, a branded Courier Company Ford bakkie driven by an employee of the company and a white Toyota double cab bakkie,” he explained.
Upon searching the vehicles, the police discovered two rifles and three pistols in possession of the suspects. The suspects were arrested and charged with possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition as well as conspiracy to commit robbery.
“The firearms will be subjected to ballistic testing to determine if they were not used in the commission of other crimes, and suspects will be profiled to establish if they are not wanted for committing other crimes,” said Mavela Masondo.
Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni thanked the members of the Johannesburg Flying Squad for foiling yet another robbery that might have led to the loss of lives.
Lieutenant General Mthombeni expressed his gratitude, “I thank our members from the Flying Squad who acted swiftly after receiving the information and intercepted the suspects before they could commit crime and possibly kill innocent people. I also thank the law-abiding community of Gauteng, who continue to alert the police about criminal activities that are about to take place in our province. Working together, we will squeeze the space for the criminals in Gauteng.”
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