IMG 20250119 WA0041

TRT Operations Lead to Arrest and Deadly Shootout

CRIMENEWSTOP STORIES
IMG 20250119 WA0041

Tactical Response Team in OR Tambo District arrested two suspects regarding armed robbery and firearm-related crimes on Sunday (Photo credits: SAPS Facebook page)

Eastern Cape, South Africa- The Tactical Response Team (TRT) in OR Tambo has successfully executed two critical operations targeting armed robbery and firearm-related related crimes within the region. Two suspects were arrested amid the operations on Sunday.

According to the media Statement released by the South African Police Service (SAPS), the first operation took place in South Ridge where the team acted on intelligence regarding an armed robbery suspect. Upon raiding a property on Mlonyeni Street, a large number of cellphones suspected to be stolen were discovered. The suspect was immediately arrested for possession of suspected stolen property linked to other robbery cases.

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Cellphones discovered by the police while raiding a property in South Ridge, Mlonyeni Street. (Photo credits: SAPS Facbook page)

In a separate operation in the Sulenkama area near Qumbu, TRT officers followed up on reliable intelligence regarding a robbery suspect in the Gwadana locality, where they met with gunfire resulting in a shootout. The primary suspect, believed to be a key individual in the case was fatally wounded in the exchange. Police recovered a 9mm pistol with an erased serial number and 9mm rounds of ammunition.

Charges have been laid for possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of a prohibited firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, attempted murder , and attack on police. The firearm was sent for ballistic analysis.

An inquest into the incident has been opened for an investigation by the Independent Police Investigation Directorate (IPID).

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