LIMPOPO – This follows the recovery of several firearms and the arrests of eight people in separate incidents which took place in the Lephahale, Tubatse, Marble Hall ,Lebowakgomo and Maake Policing areas, said Police Spokesperson, Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe.
In the first incident three suspects, involved in a business robbery in which R800 000 was stolen, were arrested in Lephalale. A sting joint operation composed of various police units was conducted in both Marapong and Onverwacht following the a business robbery at a shop within the Lephalale CBD, said Ngoepe.
“During the arrest the amount of R250 000 from the stolen amount and 11 cell phones were recovered. The suspects, aged between 26 and 41-years-old, will appear before the Lephalale Magistrate Court on Monday 24 July 2017 on a charge of theft.”
Meanwhile in Tubatse near Burgersfort, two suspects aged 26 and 35-years-old, were arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
It is alleged the operation was unfolding around Bothashoek village when the members spotted a vehicle with three occupants. The driver of the vehicle made a fast u-turn and the police gave chase until they managed to pull the vehicle off the road.
The occupants and the vehicle were searched and the following items were recovered:
* 1× rifle.
* 1x shotgun
* 1× pistol with one magazine and 13 rounds
* 13 x Winchester ammunition
* 15x Swartkip ammunition
* R3 200 Counterfeit money in one hundred rand notes
* R4 800 Counterfeit money in two hundred rand notes
* 3 x cell phones.
Suspected stolen good recovered included:
* 1x stolen green passport, wallet, bunch of keys, a knife, key holder, Identity document of another person, 1 medal, 1 bracelet, R30, 5 stones of gold and a Nissan Sentra.
In the Marble Hall, Lebowakgomo and Maake Policing areas ,three (03) suspects aged between 24 and 32 were arrested and two firearms and two hunting rifles were recovered.
The two hunting rifles were found in a farm outside Marble Hall near Groblesdal by the Security Officials who were doing a routine patrol who subsequently called the police but there is no arrest yet.
At this stage, the origin of this rifles is still unknown but the possibility of them belonging to the rhino poachers ,may not be ruled out but the Police investigations will tell as they are still unfolding.
The arrested suspects during this operations will appear before Tubatse, Lebowakgomo and Lenyenye Magistrate courts on Monday 24 July 2017.
