Putfontein _ On Wednesday 10 August 2022 in the Putfontein area, the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Specialised Task Team Unit in conjunction with the EMPD Anti-Truck Hijacking Unit apprehended three Zimbabwean suspects who were in possession of blasting cartridges and capped fuse explosives.
At 10:00, the members of the EMPD Specialised Task Team Unit during crime prevention patrols on Kingsway Road noticed a grey Nissan Micra driving recklessly heading towards Brazil Street and attempted to stop the vehicle.
The vehicle ignored the attempt and a chase ensued. The driver lost control of the vehicle and collided with a steal barricade at the corner of Brazil and Mathewson Street. The driver, a 30-year-old male, and his passenger, a 22-year-old female, both jumped out of the crash and ran into a neighbouring field but were swiftly apprehended by the officers.
The officers then searched the vehicle and found eleven (11) white 28mm blasting cartridges and twenty-five (25) green capped fuses concealed by a black jacket. The two suspects were interrogated and stated they had more explosives at their residence in Mayfield Extension 6.
The law enforcers proceeded to the address where they discovered an additional three-hundred-and-forty-one (341) white 28mm blasting cartridges in a black plastic bag wrapped in tape. Through further interrogation, the suspects informed the officers of another residence in Cloverdene where more explosives would be located. The EMPD Anti-Truck Hijacking Unit were called in for backup and proceeded to the second location. On arrival, the third suspect, a 29-year-old female, was found. Officers searched the property and found concealed in white maize meal bags three-hundred-and-sixteen (316) green capped fuses.
The suspects, facing charges of ‘possession of explosives, were detained at the Putfontein and Crystal Park police stations. Other charges, under the Migrations Act, could be added because the threesome originate from Zimbabwe. All the apprehended suspects are expected to appear in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court soon.
