Durban — KwaZulu-Natal police continue to crack the whip on crime as nine suspects are expected to appear in the Durban Magistrates Court on Wednesday, to face charges of extortion, murder and armed robbery.
The suspects were arrested on Tuesday, October 15, during a police intelligence-driven operation called, Vala Umgodi.
KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said investigations led police to a residence on Grundel Road in Glenmore, Umbilo.
“The operation resulted in the arrest of nine suspects aged between 19 and 40 years old. Police found two pistols, a rifle magazine and 173 rounds of ammunition of various calibres of firearms as well as drugs,” Netshiunda said.
“The suspects are believed to be involved in extortion, murder, armed robberies and drug-related activities in the eThekwini District.”
Netshiunda said the suspects are expected to appear in court on October 16.
Recently, three suspects wanted for extortion and murder were killed in a shoot-out with police in two separate incidents in Durban.
At the time, Netshiunda said three suspects who were wanted for a string of extortion and murder cases in the eThekwini District were shot and killed in two separate incidents of shoot-outs with police in KZN.
In the first incident, police followed up on information regarding the whereabouts of a suspect wanted for at least four extortion cases and another four counts of murder, which he allegedly committed in the KwaNdengezi and Mariannhill areas.
When police arrived at a house at Glebe in Inanda, the suspect fired shots at the police and during the shoot-out, the suspect was shot and fatally wounded. He was found in possession of a 7.65 pistol with four rounds of ammunition.
In the second incident, police operationalised intelligence which uncovered the hideout of two suspects who were also wanted for extortion and murder cases.
The suspects were cornered at Edabe informal settlement in Tshelimnyama in Mariannhill and the suspects shot at the police from inside the house. In self-defence police returned fire and during the shoot-out, two suspects were shot and fatally wounded. They were found in possession of two firearms.
The recovered firearms were to be taken for ballistic testing to check if they are linked to other crime scenes.
The three deceased suspects had links to the six suspects who were shot and fatally wounded in a shoot-out with police at holiday accommodation in South Beach, Durban at the beginning of September 2024.
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