A TACTICAL INTELLIGENCE DRIVEN OPERATION YIELDS POSITIVE RESULTS FOLLOWING ARREST OF TWO SUSPECTS FOR POSSESSION OF UNLICENSED FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION

A TACTICAL INTELLIGENCE DRIVEN OPERATION YIELDS POSITIVE RESULTS FOLLOWING ARREST OF TWO SUSPECTS FOR POSSESSION OF UNLICENSED FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION

POLOKWANE: A Tactical Intelligence driven operation which commenced on Friday 13 January 2023 at about 10:00 until Saturday 14 January 2023 led to the apprehension of two suspects aged 32 and 36 at White City, Mhala policing area in Mpumalanga Province and Hoedspruit policing area in Limpopo Province

The suspects were arrested by the members of the Phalaborwa Crime Intelligence, Hoedspruit Detectives, Mopani District Trio Task Team and Limpopo Highway Patrol Team following a business burglary that took place during the month of March 2021 after eleven firearms and ammunitions were stolen in Hoedspruit policing precinct.

Police received information about the whereabout of one of the suspects who allegedly committed the burglary and immediately rushed to the said place.

Upon arrival at the residence, police found a 36 year-old male suspect and requested to search the house. During the search, police found the following firearms and ammunition :

• One firearm with 04 ammunition.
• 102 Rementon shotgun with 12 Gage Green ammunition.
• One shotgun with 30 imperial field load Green ammunition.
• 68 shotgun Diana Red ammunition.
• One shotgun with 28 Imperial white ammunition.
• 11 shotgun Saga Orange ammunition.
• 15 ammunition of 416 rifle.
• 71 ammunition of 811 rifle.
• 13 Baby Brown ammunition.
• 02 ammunition of 223 rifle.
• 01 telescope.
• 01 rifle sniper.

The suspect was immediately arrested after he could not account for the origin of the recovered items.

The operation to trace the suspects continued until Saturday 14 January 2023 at about 07h00 and police managed to arrest another male suspect at Hoedspruit Farm. A 32 year-old suspect, a resident at Eslington Mhala policing area was found in possession of one firearm and was also placed under arrest.

The suspects are expected to appear before the Hoedspruit Magistrate court soon facing charges of business burglary and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

Police investigations are continuing.