By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Hawks arrested 11 suspects who were planning to hold up staff at OR Tambo International Airport’s cargo section in an armed robbery on Friday night.
Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said they received a tip-off about a planned armed robbery, and the Hawks’ Tactical Operations Management Section launched a joint intelligence-driven operation.
The unit was assisted by the Special Task Force, Ekurhuleni District Operational Task Team, K9 Law Enforcement and Bad Boyz Security.
“The information was operationalised, and the team observed as the identified eight-ton truck with false registration plates and branding entered Swissport,” said Mogale.
Mogale added: The team tactically contained the truck, and 11 suspects who were concealed behind empty cardboard boxes were arrested.
The truck, three unlicensed firearms, ammunition and cellphones were seized.
In October, two suspects were arrested at OR Tambo for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs out of the country.
In one incident, a 69-year-old allegedly was found in possession of 8kg of pure heroin with an estimated street value of R1.2 million. The substance was allegedly destined for India.
Another arrest involved a 23-year-old foreign woman, who was found with 3.6kg of cocaine estimated to be valued at R1.4 million.