Five armed men arrested near Beyers Naude Drive allegedly en route to commit business robbery

Five men were arrested after police intercepted two vehicles travelling on the N1 highway on October 26.

Police and private security acted swiftly on information from Crime Intelligence and intercepted a gang of armed men shortly after 13:00 on Wednesday afternoon. The intelligence received indicated that the men were allegedly en route to commit a robbery in Honeydew. The five suspects were arrested, unlicensed firearms were recovered and two vehicles were impounded at the scene on the N1 South freeway close to the Beyers Naudé Drive off-ramp.

Information was received about a group of men travelling in two motor vehicles that were planning to commit a business robbery in Honeydew. The police from Gauteng Highway Patrol Unit, Gauteng Traffic Police Saturation Unit and private agencies, Tracker Connect and BadBoyz Security were placed into strategic positions with the aim of identifying and tracking the suspects.

The vehicles in question, a VW Polo and VW Caddy Panel Van, were spotted on the N1 South freeway and the team stopped the vehicles. Unlicensed firearms, ammunition and suspected break-in equipment were recovered as the team was searching the vehicles and suspects. Preliminary investigation revealed that both vehicles were affixed with false registration plates.

Suspects will be profiled to establish if they are not linked to other crimes, the firearms will be taken for ballistic tests while the confiscated items were booked in at Honeydew police station. Gauteng provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, confirmed the incident, saying, “The five suspects are expected to appear before a magistrate’s court soon, facing charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition”.