POLICE intercepted a courier company bakkie and a private Toyota bakkie with six armed suspects who were allegedly on their way to commit a robbery in Sandton on Sunday, 24 March.
According to Gauteng police spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel, Mavela Masondo, the suspects were found in possession of two rifles and three pistols loaded with live rounds of ammunition.
Police received information about the gang, which was going to commit robbery around Joburg using a marked courier truck. Members from Johannesburg Flying Squad kept observation and spotted the two vehicles matching the given description and travelling 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.
"Both vehicles were searched where two rifles and three pistols were found in the possession of the suspects. Six suspects were arrested and charged with possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, as well as conspiracy to commit robbery," said Masondo.
He said the firearms will be subjected to ballistic testing to determine if they were not used in the commission of other crimes, while the suspects will be profiled to establish if they are wanted for other crimes.
In a separate incident, Masondo said police responded to a shooting at a licenced liquor outlet where four people were shot and three vehicles robbed in Olievenhoutbosch on Saturday, 23 March.
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"Three of the four were declared dead on the scene while one was taken to hospital for medical attention. One of the robbed cars was recovered within hours at a block of hijacked flats called Nkandla," he said.
He said cops are investigating cases of murder, attempted murder and hijacking.
Gauteng Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni thanked the members of Johannesburg Flying Squad for foiling yet another robbery that might have led to the loss of lives.
"I thank our members from 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," said Mthombeni.
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