COPS bust most wanted cross-border vehicles smuggling suspects.
The National Commissioner of Police, General Fannie Masemola, said he is confident that the task team deployed to clamp down on cross-border vehicle smuggling syndicates in Northern KwaZulu-Natal would continue to make arrests.
According to Brigadier Athlenda Mathe three more suspects belonging to a syndicate smuggling stolen vehicles across the border to Mozambique were arrested this week.
She said the two suspects are also accused of killing a prominent anti-crime activist, Sipho “Juda” Mthethwa, who was gunned down outside his home in February.
"Mthethwa also served as the Chairperson of the Umhlabuyalingana Society Against Crime organisation and was at the forefront in the fight against cross-border crime in areas around uMkhanyakude," Mathe said.
Thokozani Dlamini (36), Sipho Mhlanga (36) and Xolani Mkhwanazi (28) were arrested during a takedown operation in Empangeni this week.
Mathe said the suspects were found with two unlicensed pistols and several rounds of ammunition in their possession.
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"The firearms have been taken in for ballistic testing to determine if they have been used in the commission of crimes.
"The three have already appeared before various courts in Northern KwaZulu-Natal including Empangeni, Emanguzi and Ngwelezane Magistrates Court," she added.
They face charges of murder, kidnapping, car hijacking, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition and house robbery.
Mathe said the trio is linked to at least 52 more cases of car hijackings in KZN.
Meanwhile General Masemola said the task team is confident that more arrests and vehicles would be recovered in the area.
“We will continue to respond accordingly to ensure we prevent and combat crime in communities like Umkhanyakude. Since the inception of crime combatting operations like Operation Shanela, we have managed to arrest 99 754 suspects with a bid to ensure safer communities since 08 May," Masemola said.
