Suspected hijackers shot dead in foiled cash-in-transit heist in Msinga area
The deadly exchange took place on the evening of Thursday, July 3, at around 6 pm after police received a tip-off about an impending heist. A multi-disciplinary intelligence-led operation was swiftly launched, with officers deployed to patrol the identified hotspot.
According to SAPS provincial spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker, officers spotted a Mercedes-Benz with four occupants matching the description provided in the intelligence. When they attempted to intercept the vehicle, the suspects opened fire.
'Police responded with tactical precision, returning fire. Two suspects were fatally wounded in the shootout, while the remaining two were arrested on the scene,' confirmed Naicker.
Police recovered two unlicensed firearms and a cache of ammunition at the scene. Preliminary investigations have since revealed that one of the arrested suspects is a former employee of a private security company.
The two surviving suspects, both in their forties, have been charged with attempted murder and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. They are expected to appear in the Msinga Magistrate's Court soon.
'The swift response and bravery of our officers prevented what could have been a major cash-in-transit robbery. Investigations into the broader criminal network are ongoing,' said Brigadier Naicker.
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