Six arrested for suspected airport robberies
A security company manager and five other suspects have been arrested in Johannesburg for their alleged involvement in airport robberies, during which passengers have been followed from OR Tambo International Airport and robbed.
National Police believe they made the breakthrough on Friday night, when a security vehicle was spotted and followed from OR Tambo Internaional Airport.
SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, says the security vehicle was seen following another car in the direction of Sandton.
"Police arrested the driver and a passenger after it came to light that the driver was the manager of a security company and was wanted in Limpopo for the unlawful possession of a fire arm, as well as armed robbery," said Naidoo.
Naidoo says this security company is also believed to be contracted to work at OR Tambo and is being investigated.
These two suspects then led police to a premises in Hillbrow, where four more suspects were arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning.
"Police recovered two more vehicles, passports, luggage and several more items that we believe may have been robbed from passengers who were followed from OR Tambo," added Naidoo.
Police also confiscated two more pistols that will be sent for ballistic tests to determine whether the fire arms were used in similar robberies.
A seventh suspect fled during the police raid.
The six suspects are expected to appear in court on Monday.
On Thursday night a group of Iraqi visitors to South Africa were held at gunpoint, shortly after they landed at OR Tambo International Airport on a flight from George in the Southern Cape.
One of the visitors was injured during the robbery.
Last month, a group of 36 Dutch tourists were robbed, while on their way from the airport to their accommodation in Fourways. One of the tourists was also injured and they subsequently left the country, without completing the rest of their trip.