Two held in R1.5m diamond bust
POLICE made several breakthroughs in their ongoing fight against crime in the province, which will see many suspects in different courts this week.
These include the arrest of two suspects aged 46 and 53, who will appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court today.
Police spokesperson Andrè Traut said the Western Cape flying squad had arrested suspects in possession of presumed uncut diamonds with an estimated value of R1.5 million.
Traut said police were busy with a stop-and-search operation in Voortrekker Road, Bellville, when their attention was drawn to the two suspects.
“The men were questioned and they appeared nervous. This prompted the members to conduct a body search which resulted in the discovery of two small bags with 27 diamonds.
“The men, from Namibia, were arrested and are due to make a court today,” Traut said.
Another two suspects, aged 19 and 29, will appear in the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court on charges of possessing unlicensed firearms and a stolen vehicle.
Traut said the two were arrested soon after four armed suspects hijacked a Toyota Run X in Lingelethu West. He said vigilant Kuils River police station officers reacted to a radio broadcast that the hijacked vehicle was heading towards their area on Saturday.
“The area was patrolled and the hijacked vehicle with four male occupants were spotted. Following a highspeed pursuit, the suspects collided with two other vehicles and were brought to a halt…”
In an unrelated incident in Steenberg, Traut said a 22-year-old suspect was apprehended and would appear in court for being in possession of an unlicensed .22 pistol after the Crime Prevention Unit followed up on a tipoff from the community.