16 suspects arrested and eight unlicensed firearms recovered in takedown operation, foiling a planned business robbery

PARKTOWN – An intelligence-driven takedown operation by a multi-disciplinary team made up of various provincial units from Gauteng and the ORTIA SAPS plus private security, on Tuesday evening, 18 August 2020 foiled a planned business robbery that was targeting a freight depot at Jet Park in Boksburg North.

The team reportedly kept observation and subsequently spotted the suspects’ vehicles whereafter a shootout ensued between the suspects and the police.

A takedown was executed and this resulted in the arrest of 16 suspects and the recovery of eight (8) illegal firearms.

Two vehicles, an Iveco panel van and a VW Caddy, both confirmed as stolen and fitted with false registration plates, were seized for further investigation.

The suspects as well as the recovered firearms will be subjected to further profiling and investigation to establish possible linkage to other business robberies and any previous crimes.

Gauteng Commissioner of police, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela has commended this success that highlights the critical role played by Crime Intelligence in the policing value chain.

“The number of suspects and more so the illegal firearms recovered, confirms that criminals will not think twice to lethally wipe off any obstruction or threat to their criminal plans. It is with this in mind that intercepting this business robbery is highly commendable as it underscores our decisiveness in addressing trio crimes that cover house and business robberies and hijackings,” General Mawela emphasized.