Three Mozambican nationals are expected to appear in the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court in North West tomorrow (November 16) to face charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, and conspiracy to commit a crime, after allegedly failing to provide a satisfactory explanation for items found in their possession.

Potchefstroom Herald reports swift police work resulted in the trio’s arrest on suspicion of rhino poaching yesterday morning (November 14) near Klerkskraal Dam.

The arrest took place along the N14 near Klerkskraal Police Station, close to the dam, where the suspects’ gold Toyota RunX was intercepted. The trio, aged between 34 and 54, were travelling from Lichtenburg towards Ventersdorp.

According to North West police spokesperson Colonel Adele Myburgh, the effective use of camera monitoring and vehicle-tracking capabilities, with assistance from members of the Potchefstroom Flying Squad and Stilfontein K9 Unit, contributed to the arrest.

“A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery and seizure of a .375 hunting rifle, ammunition, balaclavas, gloves and butcher’s knives,” Myburgh added.

Technology and collaboration boost crime fight

“The successful interception and arrest of these suspects demonstrate the value of collaboration, intelligence sharing and the effective use of technology in the fight against crime. The Eyes and Ears initiative continues to strengthen our collective efforts to prevent and combat criminal activities,” said North West police commissioner Lieutenant General Arthur Peter Adams.

The Eyes and Ears initiative is a public-private crime-fighting partnership involving SAPS, Business Against Crime South Africa and the private security industry. It facilitates the sharing of information and resources to enhance crime prevention, detection and law enforcement operations.

“We are particularly encouraged that, through this partnership, we were able to intercept individuals suspected of being involved in rhino poaching before they could potentially execute their plans,” Adams added.

Parys Gazette meanwhile reports that Adams praised the co-operation between the police and private security companies, emphasising the importance of sharing intelligence and proactive policing to prevent crime. He also expressed his appreciation to South African Polygraph and Investigation Services and Crime Intelligence in the Eastern Cape for their important role in identifying, tracing and monitoring the suspects, saying their contribution led to the successful operation.

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