A shootout between police and suspected criminals ended with five suspects dead in Crown Mines on July 24.

According to reports, the police received intelligence about a group of suspects planning to commit a cash-in-transit heist in Johannesburg.

The suspects’ vehicle was spotted at the M1/M2 highway split. A chase began when they noticed the police, and they opened fire.

@comaro.chroniclePolice recover an AK-47, a pistol, and explosives after stopping suspects believed to be linked to a recent robbery and murder in KwaZulu-Natal. Read full story on comarochronicle.co.za♬ original sound – Comaro Chronicle

Officers returned fire, leading to a fatal shootout. The suspects’ vehicle crashed into a palisade fence, and all five occupants were fatally shot.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the same vehicle was involved in a murder and cash-in-transit robbery that occurred on July 14, 2025, at Kingsley in KwaZulu-Natal.

A cache of weapons, including an AK-47, a pistol, and explosives, was recovered from the vehicle.

Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, SAPS commissioner of Gauteng, praised the swift reaction of a team consisting of national Counter-Intelligence, tactical response teams from Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, the DPCI in both provinces, Gauteng Traffic Police, and private security companies.

“This collaboration has been successful and should send a powerful message to criminals that the police will not relent and will continue to act decisively,” said Mthombeni.

The successful operation is a testament to the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration and the police’s commitment to tackling crime in the province.

The police are continuing to investigate the suspects’ activities and possible connections.

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