The City of Johannesburg’s Metro police K9 unit, hailed for its successes since being relaunched last year, has again impressed after recovering a hijacked truck that was carrying goods worth
R50 million.
The K9 Narcotics and Tactical Unit arrested two suspects on 24 June after recovering the truck in central Johannesburg.
“[The unit] responded to a tracker signal,” Michael Sun, the City’s Public Safety MMC said. “Two suspects were apprehended for hijacking and possession of stolen goods and a case was opened at the Johannesburg [police] station where the suspects are still being held.”
The truck was, Sun said, returned to the company that owns it.
“As officials from the Department of Public Safety, our top priority is to ensure that the residents of Johannesburg are kept safe and that criminals are held to account. This requires that our officers work around the clock and go beyond the call of duty to ensure that we fulfill our mandate.
“I wish to commend [the officer’s] hard work and commitment, and assure our residents that criminality will not be tolerated in the city of Johannesburg.”
The unit, relaunched with 60 officers late last year, has since confiscated drug manufacturing chemicals worth R9.5 million, made 597 arrests, and recovered 100kg of drugs, 463 stolen or hijacked vehicles, 1 044 stolen items and 52 firearms.
Mayor Herman Mashaba has called the unit the ‘real heroes of our city’.
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