A multi-disciplinary law enforcement operation yesterday resulted in the arrest of 11 suspects alleged to be involved in highway spiking and online shopping robberies.

One suspect was shot and killed.

According to police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili, the police received information on the whereabouts of suspects allegedly responsible for road spiking incidents on the N1, N4 and R80.

The suspects were also allegedly involved in online shopping robberies, where they would lure people from social media platforms to purchase items in person and then rob them, says Muridili.

“The team went to Winterveldt [to] a house that was also used to operate an illegal shebeen, where they confronted 10 male suspects and the woman running the shebeen.”

Muridili says one of the suspects, who had a firearm, allegedly charged police, and the police shot him. He was declared dead at the scene.

Four suspects will be charged with several counts of rape and armed robbery, while the woman will be charged with contravening the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 and operating an illegal shebeen.

Muridili says further investigators are underway.

Police seized a replica firearm and alcohol.

SAPS Gauteng provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni commended the team of district detectives who worked with SAPS detectives and Rietgat and FNB Security officials to arrest the suspects.

“I am pleased with the dedication and commitment shown by the team that has been working around the clock to ensure that they hunt down and arrest the suspects who have been terrorising the community.

“The arrest of these suspects will help us close many cases related to road spiking and online shopping,” says Mthombeni.

The suspects will appear before various courts in Pretoria tomorrow.