The Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene has hailed the work police after they arrested three suspects for the possession of unlicensed firearms and explosives on March 11 near Mpantu Bridge in Port St Johns.
Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana, police spokesperson, said preliminary investigation suggests that SAPS members were conducting roadblocks and patrols on R61 road between Lusikisiki and Port St Johns, when they stopped a white suspicious looking Toyota Corrolla.
“As they searched the vehicle, they found three explosives and two firearms hidden inside the car in which they were driving,” Kinana said.
Explosives and Forensics units were immediately called to process the crime scene and the explosives and firearms were confiscated as exhibits.
“They will be sent to the ballistics unit to determine if they had not been used in the commission of other crimes elsewhere. The make and the origin of the explosives is yet to be established as part of the investigation and it is not clear at this stage where these arms were destined to.”
The arrested suspects, men aged between 20 and 30, have since been detained until their court appearance in Port St Johns Magistrate’s Court on Monday, March 14 on charges relating to the possession of explosives and unlicensed firearms.
“I thank my members for their vigilance and swift response. These dangerous weapons could have been used to take away lives. Let the suspects provide us with more information on their motives,” Lieutenant General Mene remarked.
ISSUED BY SAPS
