Hijacking syndicate: 3 arrested in Gauteng
A joint law enforcement operation successfully intercepted members of a hijacking syndicate in Evaton West, Gauteng, over the weekend.
Law enforcement units from CII Gauteng, Sedibeng Tracking Unit, Sedibeng Flying Squad, Gauteng Traffic Police High Priority Crimes and Internal Affairs and the Sedibeng Infrastructure Unit D Shift intercepted a vehicle hijacking syndicate operating between Randfontein and Evaton West over the weekend.
Police spokesperson Constable Thulisile Msibi says the operation was launched following intelligence received from an informant, which indicated that suspects who had hijacked a vehicle in Randfontein were transporting it to Evaton West to be 'cooled off' and later sold to an unknown buyer in the area.
Sedibeng Ster reports that the syndicate was reportedly using a white Audi as an escort vehicle, while a red VW Polo was identified as the hijacked vehicle.
The team intercepted the suspects on Moakedi Street in Evaton West.
'Upon arrival, one suspect was found inside the red Polo, which was later confirmed to be hijacked [in] a case opened in Mohlakeng. [Other] suspects were discovered in the white Audi, that was 'escorting' the stolen vehicle,' Msibi says.
Police recovered one unlicensed firearm with its serial number filed off and 19 rounds of live ammunition inside the Audi.
All three suspects were arrested and charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, and possession of a hijacked vehicle.
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