Limpopo police commissioner Lt-Gen Thembi Hadebe has hailed the arrest of two suspects and further commended the investigating team members for their resilience and diligent work that led to the confiscation of nine firearms as well as two high-powered vehicles.
"As a result of the police's meticulous work, a 50-year-old male suspect, together with his female companion, was arrested for possession of nine unlicensed firearms and ammunition during an intelligence-driven operation conducted by the provincial Investigation Unit and the provincial Tracking Team in Thohoyandou," said provincial police spokesperson Col Malesela Ledwaba in a press release.
Ledwaba said that on Tuesday, 15 April, the provincial Investigating Team had received valuable intelligence and followed up on a suspicious vehicle said to contain firearms around Thohoyandou.
"The vehicle matching the description was spotted driving along the R524 to Punda Maria. The driver, after noticing the police, allegedly sped off. The police gave chase until the vehicle was cornered and ultimately forced to stop at Tshikhudini village. The police, upon searching the vehicle, found a 9mm pistol. The driver failed to give a satisfactory explanation about the firearm and was immediately placed under arrest," said Ledwaba.
Further investigation led the Operational Team to the suspect's homestead, where a female person was found in the house. The house was searched and eight more firearms were found. The female suspect was also arrested and two high-powered vehicles (a black Porsche Cayenne and Range Rover) were seized along with the firearms (eight pistols and one revolver including, among others, .22 and 9mm calibres) to form part of investigations.
At the time of our going to press, the two suspects were due to appear in the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court on Thursday, 17 April, on charges of the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.