HIGHLY WANTED SUSPECTS ARRESTED AND POSITIVELY LINKED WITH SERIES OF SERIOUS CRIMES, FIREARMS RECOVERED
POLOKWANE: Members of the Trio Task Team in the Vhembe District, last night conducted a well coordinated intelligence driven operation at Fondwe village under Siloam policing area outside Thohoyandou and managed to apprehend two highly wanted criminals and recovered three firearms and ammunition.
The Police received and operationalized the information about the suspects allegedly responsible for the spate of murders, robberies, rapes and burglaries that were committed the areas falling under Thohoyandou, Levubu, Waterval, Malamulele, Siloam, Mphephu, Vuwani and Saselamani policing precincts.
When the team approached the identified location, the suspects allegedly started shooting at them. The member’s tactical prowess reigned supreme and one of the suspects was arrested. The other, who was apparently injured during the shooting, managed to evade arrest. Two pistols with serial numbers filed off were recovered at the scene.
The team proceeded with the operation throughout the night, hunting down the suspect who evaded arrest and in the early hours of this morning, information was received about an unknown injured man who got into an unused house at Mandala village under Siloam policing area. On arrival, the team found the suspect with bullet wound and arrested him. Police recovered three pistols and a pellet gun. He was identified as the one who earlier evaded arrest. The suspect has been admitted in hospital under police guard.
The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has commended the members for finally arresting these suspects and stopping them in their tracks of terrorising communities in the Vhembe District.
The suspects, aged 21 and 34, will appear in Thohoyandou magistrate court soon, facing charges of attempted murder and possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.
Investigations are currently underway to link the suspects with a series of serious crimes.
