NELSPRUIT – Two men, aged 20 and 37, are expected to appear at the Acornhoek Magistrate’s Court, tomorrow, 05 July 2019, on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm.
The pair were arrested yesterday, 03 July 2019, at Acornhoek, during an intelligence-driven operation about a grey Ford Focus, with two occupants who were allegedly on their way to a private Game Reserve around Hoedspruit to poach for rhino horn. Their plan, however, was thwarted when the alert police intercepted the said vehicle along the R40 road.
The officers searched the vehicle and found a hunting rifle hidden under the back seat.
In a separate incident, police in Mpumalanga are looking for five suspects who robbed a liquor store at Standerton, last night as well.
It is alleged that two men entered the shop pretending to be customers, when suddenly one of them pulled out a firearm and ordered a staff member to lie down while the others were ordered to go to the back of the shop.
Moments later, the two suspects were joined by three others. They then took liquor worth thousands of rands, which they loaded into their vehicle, a grey, Ford Focus with no number plates, as well as an undisclosed amount of cash before fleeing the scene.
Police are requesting anyone with information that may assist in locating the suspects, to contact Sergeant Oupa Radebe at 063 445 7885/013 659 8400, the SAPS Crime Stop number 08600 10111 may also be called.