Three males and one female were nabbed by the Tshwane metro police on their way to deliver diamonds worth R3.7m at a mall in Mayville, north of the Pretoria CBD, over the weekend.

Two suspects are alleged to be from Namibia, according to Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) spokesperson Superintendent Isaac Mahamba.

Mahamba says the TMPD K9 Unit, along with other law enforcement agencies, conducted a crime intelligence-driven operation on Saturday that led to the arrests.

“During the operation, they followed up on information about diamonds that were going to be delivered at a mall in Mayville,” adds Mahamba.

“The team rushed to the said location and tactically waited for the suspects to arrive.”

Mahamba says that when a white Honda vehicle arrived with four suspects inside, they were immediately apprehended in possession of 36 diamonds.

“The diamonds have an estimated street value of R3.7m.

“All four suspects, aged between 49 and 62, were arrested for dealing in illegal diamonds and money laundering and will appear in court soon.”

In a separate incident in Eersterust and Mamelodi on Wednesday, the TMPD conducted a joint operation with other law enforcement agencies in which 26 tuk tuks were impounded and fines amounting to R112 350 were issued for various offences.

“Four illegal immigrants were arrested, with two suspects arrested for hiring illegal immigrants.

“These operations are conducted in different areas and continue to yield good results in terms of crime prevention, road policing, and by-law contraventions,” says Mahamba.

He says the diamond bust was a tremendous achievement by the TMPD.

“The TMPD will continue to fight crime in Tshwane,” he adds.