.jpg "Mthatha Flying Squad Arrests Two Suspects in Operation Shanela II Crackdown")
As part of the intensified Operation Shanela II, the Mthatha Flying Squad has arrested two male suspects, aged 40 and 42, for possession of a hijacked vehicle and an unlicensed firearm in separate incidents over the weekend.
Recovery of Hijacked Vehicle
In the first incident, on Friday, July 4, 2025, at approximately *21:00*, Flying Squad members recovered a grey Toyota Rumion in Mthatha’s Payne locality. The vehicle had been hijacked earlier in Slovo Park, Mthatha, where the owner was shot and injured. Acting on tracker assistance, police located the stolen vehicle inside a suspect’s garage.
Arrest and Firearm Seizure
In a separate operation on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at around *23:30*, officers stopped and searched a suspicious vehicle on Eagle Street. The 40-year-old driver was found in possession of the keys to the hijacked Toyota Rumion as well as an unlicensed 9mm pistol. He was arrested on the spot.
Both suspects are set to appear before the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court on Monday, July 7, 2025, to face their respective charges.
Operation Shanela II continues to intensify police efforts in combating crime, with law enforcement agencies targeting high-priority offenses across the region.
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