”Operation Most Wanted” led to 11 arrests on a variety of charges on Thursday and Friday, Pretoria police said.
The Rietgat tracing unit made four arrests for armed robberies and attempted murder, the Pretoria flying squad arrested five men for hijacking and the city’s organised crime unit made two arrests for drug dealing, said Constable Brenda Kgafela.
Kgafela said the Rietgat unit’s operation took place in Soshanguve, north of the city, between 6am and 7pm on Thursday.
”They arrested four suspects aged between 17 and 23, believed to be members of the gang committing armed robbery,” she said.
Three unlicensed pistols were confiscated. All four suspects are to appear in the Soshanguve Magistrate’s court on charges of armed robbery, possession of unlicensed firearms and attempted murder.
Kgafela said the flying squad arrested five occupants of a Volkswagen Caravelle minibus on Thursday night after being alerted that the vehicle had been hijacked in Atteridgeville at 11.15pm. A 15-minute chase ensued and the men — aged between 19 and 48 — were arrested in Akasia, north of the city.
The organised crime unit arrested two Tanzanian men aged 25 and 36 in Proclamation Hill, west of the city, at 5.30am on Friday for drug dealing, said Kgafela. The men were found with R20 000 worth of cocaine.
The five arrested for hijacking and the two arrested for drug dealing were to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Kgafela said more arrests were expected as investigations continued. – Sapa