The SAPS is calling the arrest of 18 people a breakthrough in the fight against airport-related crimes.
Two of the arrested suspects are believed to be the ringleaders in airport-related robberies.
Last year the Bedfordview and Edenvale community was gripped with several, similar types of airport crimes. The crimes generally involved residents or foreign nationals being followed from OR Tambo International Airport by criminals and being robbed on arriving at their destination.
“Two people, who are possibly linked to robberies in which people were followed from the airport, are due to appear in different courts. They are among the 18 people arrested since last year for allegedly following people from the airport and then robbing them”, said Lieutenant General Solomon Makgale.
“Lentswe Abel Madube, one of the possible ringleaders, has been linked to seven different armed robbery cases, some relating to the Edenvale and Bedfordview areas. Madube was originally arrested in Bedfordview in January this year,” said Lt Gen Makgale.
“Madube was linked to last year’s airport-related robberies that took place in Kempton Park in November, Edenvale in December, Bedfordview in October and Sandton in November,” he said.
“Patrica Mehlomakhulo, the other possible ringleader, was arrested on May 18 and is due to appear in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court for a bail application. She will face three charges of armed robbery, all of which occurred last year in the Sandton area.
According to Lt Gen Makgale, the SAPS believe they have arrested the masterminds of the airport gang operation. It is believed the suspects would rent the vehicles used in the robberies.
“The suspects would go to the airport, rent vehicles, target certain individuals carrying valuables and then rob them on their way to a hotel or when they arrived at a hotel,” said Lt Gen Makgale.
The 18 arrests were made following the formation of the National Investigating Unit (NIU) last year. The NIU consisted of retired detectives roped in to help solve the airport gang crimes which started in 2012.
When the NIU was formed, 249 dockets were given to them and in September, they were handed an additional 23 dockets.
According to Lt Gen Makgale, since the formation of the unit, crimes relating to travellers has dropped. @BedfordJourno
