OWN CORRESPONDENT, Kimberley | Wednesday
SPECIAL agents have smashed a massive arms smuggling ring operating at a South African National Defence Force ammunition depot at Jankempdorp in the Northern Cape, arresting seven people and seizing weapons, nearly 200kg of explosives and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
Chris Louw, deputy director of public prosecutions in the Northern Cape, said four of the seven arrested in a series of raids were SANDF members. A large quantity of stolen arms, ammunition and explosives was also recovered.
The operation, dubbed “Nine Mil”, started in June when information was received that SANDF members at 93 Ammunition Depot were illegally selling defence force property.
Two special agents, one from the police and one from the army, infiltrated the syndicate with the backup of investigators from the Kimberley Organised Crime Investigation Unit, the SANDF and the National Prosecuting Authority’s Kimberley office.
The evidence collected includes considerable quantities of military ordnance worth more than R37_ 000, including 150kg of TNT, 38.5kg of Pentolite, 1_ 000m of Cordtex detonator cord, one R4 assault rifle with 2 _607 rounds of ammunition, one 9mm pistol with 4 800 rounds of ammunition, a crate of 7.62mm machine gun ammunition links, 2_ 016 rounds of .38 ammunition and 6_ 400 rounds of AAA-shotgun ammunition.
Military police arrested a non-commissioned officer in Pretoria, while a 45-member team of police, soldiers, and justice officials swooped on the other identified syndicate members.
The highest ranking suspect arrested in the raids is reportedly a staff sergeant. They will all appear in court this week, and more arrests are expected.
The SANDF is checking the inventory of the depot. It was unclear if the syndicate stole and sold any other arms, ammunition, or explosives to other parties.