The ongoing Festive Season joint operations in the Vhembe District, comprising the Provincial Crime Intelligence Unit, Thohoyandou Crime Intelligence Unit, Polokwane Tactical Response Team (TRT) with Vhembe First Responder Team (FRT) and Vhembe District Detectives led to the arrest of a 33 year old suspect and a 65 year old Traditional healer for unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition on 21 December 2020 at about 02:00.
The members operationalised information received about the existence of illegal firearms in a house at Madimbo village in the Tshamutumbu policing area. On arrival at the said premises, and the suspect managed to evade the arrest after a shootout with the police. No one was injured and a case of attempted murder was opened at Tshamutumbu police station.
The team worked tirelessly and the suspect was subsequently traced and arrested at his girlfriend’s house at Madimbo village. Further investigation led the team to a traditional healer in the Masisi policing area where he had hidden the firearm that was allegedly used during the shootout with police. Upon arrival, a 9mm pistol with 9 live ammunition was recovered.
The traditional healer was also arrested on the spot for possession of illegal firearm and ammunition.
Police further recovered one rifle and 21 live ammunition at Madimbo village, hidden by the same suspect.
The suspect will still be profiled to link him with serious and violent cases. The recovered firearms will also be sent for ballistic tests to ascertain whether they were used in the commission of other crimes.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Major General Jan Scheepers has praised the endless efforts by these Teams of members in ensuring firearms are removed from the wrongful hands and arresting the suspects involved.
The suspects will appear in Tshamutumbu and Masisi Magistrate’s Court soon on charges of attempted murder and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition respectively.
Police investigations are still continuing.
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