Gqeberha K9 and Flying Squad members arrested five suspects in unrelated cases and recovered a stolen vehicle. Two suspects were arrested on charges of armed robbery, and possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition in Kleinskool, and three suspects were detained under the Marine Living Resource Act 18 1998 Reg 36 (1)- Conspiracy to commit abalone poaching in Humewood.
It is alleged that on Tuesday, 25 October 2022, at approximately 07:00 members from the Gqeberha K9 unit followed up on information about a stolen motor vehicle. The Renault Kwid was found abandoned in Tandalaza Street in Govan Mbeki. The vehicle was reported stolen on Monday 24 October 2022 from Nkadimeng Street, Kwadwesi. The vehicle was confiscated for further investigation.
In the second incident on Tuesday 25 October, 2022 at approximately 10:15, Gqeberha K9 and Flying Squad members responded to a complaint of an armed robbery in progress in Old Uitenhage Road, Kleinskool. On arrival, the complainant pointed to the two suspects one was armed with a firearm and fled into a river covered in the dense reed. Sgt Oosthuizen released his K9 buddy, Max who successfully apprehended one suspect in the river. The second suspect immediately surrendered.
With the assistance of the K9 Search and Rescue team, W/O Ettienne Gerber retrieved a .38 revolver, six rounds of ammunition, a wallet, and the stolen cellphone from the river. Cash that was also taken from the complainant was in the possession of the one suspect. Both suspects were detained on charges of armed robbery and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
In another unrelated incident, at about 07:00, today, 26 October 2022, Gqeberha Flying Squad members assisted a private anti-poaching unit in chasing a VW Polo suspected of abalone poaching in the vicinity of Noordhoek. The vehicle was stopped on Walmer Boulevard and three suspects were apprehended. The members returned to Noordhoek and with the assistance of a diver from the anti-poaching unit, 198 shucked abalone and 9 shelled abalone were confiscated. The three suspects aged between 30 and 33 were detained under the Marine Living Resource Act 18 1998 Reg 36 (1) – Conspiracy to commit abalone poaching.
All the arrested suspects will appear in the respective magistrate courts soon.