Six online scam, hijacking ‘syndicate members’ arrested in Eersterust
Police recovered eight guns, including a rifle and a shotgun, two magazines, 20 live ammunition and five cellphones.
Six people have been arrested for alleged involvement in online scams, robberies, car hijacking, murder and kidnapping in the province.
Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said the six are believed to be part of a syndicate that robbed unsuspecting online buyers in Tshwane.
He said during the arrest in Eersterust on Thursday, October 19, police recovered eight firearms and scores of ammunition.
Masondo said the syndicate operated in Winterveldt, Temba, Rietgat, Eersterust, Mabopane, Hammanskraal and Dube.
He said the arrest came after an intelligent driven operation that included members of Tshwane police crime intelligence, cyber crime units and Provincial Online Combat Team as well as Rietgat detectives.
Police recover eight firearms and arrest six more suspects linked to online robberies in Tshwane https://t.co/rrFj9pkeWE#ArriveAlive #TrioCrimes #Enforcement @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/u9gNeZ5GnT
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) October 20, 2023
Masondo said the suspects are linked to more than 12 cases that include car hijacking, murder, armed robbery and kidnapping.
He said police received information about a sale of a VW Polo that had been advertised on a social media platform (Facebook marketplace).
“The police kept observation as the potential buyer was to meet the seller at New Eersterust in Temba.”
He said four suspects were spotted and the police pounced on them.
“Police found two unlicensed firearms, two magazines, 20 live ammunition and five cellphones,” he said.
The suspects led the police to another location where six more guns, including a rifle and a shotgun, were recovered and two more suspects arrested.
Masondo said further investigations led to the arrest of an e-hailing driver believed to be the getaway driver.
Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela commended the team for the sterling work of cracking down on the syndicate.
“All suspects will be profiled and firearms taken for ballistic testing to determine if they were involved in the commission of another crime.”
Mawela said more arrests are imminent as the police investigation continues.
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