By: Natasha Archary

A syndicate suspected of supplying explosives to criminals involved in cash-in-transit (CIT) heists, ATM bombings, and illegal mining has been nabbed.
Three men and a woman were arrested in Welkom, Free State on Wednesday, 21 February during a tracing operation pulled off by the South African Police Service (SAPS) EC Crime Intelligence.
The operation involved teams from the National Intervention Unit (NIU) from Pretoria and SAPS Free State Explosives section.
Police seized 40 explosives and a number of explosives accessories during the bust.
“The suspects are believed to be involved in a number of cases where explosives were used in the commission of crimes such as ATM bombings, CIT heists and illicit mining activities in the Free State, Eastern Cape, North West and Gauteng.
All four suspects are expected to appear before the Welkom Magistrates Court on Friday, 23 February on charges relating to contravening the Explosives Act 26 of 1956.”
SAPS has seized 11 481 explosives during road blocks, tracing as well as stop and search operations since May 2023 through Operation Shanela.
To date Operation Shanela has been responsible for the arrests of 173 suspects linked to the illegal possession of explosives.
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