Members of the South African Police Service National Investigation Unit (Ninu) and the Flying Squad, acting on intelligence, recently arrested suspected follow-home robbers.
According to the police spokesperson, Brigadier Vish Naidoo, two suspects were arrested and firearms and a hijacked vehicle were recovered on the N3 in Johannesburg.
“The National Investigation Unit received intelligence that a group of men using a white Mercedes-Benz ML are targeting commuters travelling from OR Tambo International Airport.
“The team followed up on the intelligence and spotted the Mercedes travelling from the airport. Attempts to have the suspect vehicle stopped led to a shootout on the N3 near the Marlboro off-ramp.”
Naidoo said one suspect was shot dead and two men were arrested. “The police also recovered two unlicensed firearms. The Mercedes-Benz ML which the suspects were using was reported hijacked in the Norwood area in October this year.
“The suspects are likely to face charges of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, armed robbery (of the hijacked Mercedes) and murder.
“It is also possible that these suspects could be linked to at least five other airport-following robberies. The recovered firearms will be analysed by our forensic experts to determine if they were used in other crimes.”
This is a significant breakthrough according to Naidoo. “Our efforts to combat crimes in and around the OR Tambo International Airport, especially the crimes where people are being followed from the airport and being robbed.”
The suspects will appear either in the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court or the Alexander Magistrates’ Court on 11 December on the first three charges at least.
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