They hope you're not going to ask the question, "who used the police van"
BREAKING: Police bakkie used in airport
heist recovered
Graeme Hosken | 2017-03-08
15:48:02.0
The bakkie allegedly fits the
description of one of the vehicles used by robbers to hold up guards who were
to load a SAA cargo aircraft with US$15 million. File photo.
Image by: Reuben Goldberg
The
police vehicle used to carry out South Africa's biggest cash heist has been
recovered outside Pretoria.
Hawks investigators made the
breakthrough after they received a tip off that the car - a Toyota bakkie - was
abandoned north of the city.
The bakkie allegedly fits the
description of one of the vehicles used by at least seven robbers to hold up
GuardForce guards who were to load a South African Airlines cargo aircraft with
US$15 million in foreign currency at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday
night.
The flight was bound for London.
The robbers were in three vehicles‚
including a Mercedes Benz‚ a Ford Focus ST and the police bakkie.
Hawks spokesman‚ Brigadier Hangwani
Mulaudzi‚ confirmed that the vehicle had been recovered.
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He said a team of detectives from
various units within the Hawks had been established to investigate the case.
TimesLIVE understands that numerous
people were on Wednesday questioned by members of the Task Team‚ who include
organised crime and crime intelligence officers as well as members of State
Security who have been seconded to the investigation.
Police sources said that State
Security was involved because the robbery had taken place within a secure zone
of the airport which is classified as a national key point.
"This robbery is huge. It has
international ramifications. There are international security companies
involved in terms of the escorting of the cash as well as a national airline.
It was not pulled off by a bunch of mickey-mouse amateurs.
"Its well organised and has the
hallmarks of international crime syndicates."
Mulaudzi said that none of the money
had been recovered and no suspects had been arrested yet.
He said the investigators were
looking at a number of aspects‚ including the involvement of police officers.
"Explanations are needed as to
how police uniforms and a police vehicle were obtained. Information is required
as to how the robbers gained access through identity cards to get near the
cargo section of the airport."
Mulaudzi said the robbers‚ gained
access to a container‚ had made off with 27 bags containing different foreign
currency.
He declined to elaborate on how much
money had been stolen in the heist.
"The Gauteng provincial police
war room had been activated. We will put out all stops to uncover the truth
behind this weird robbery.
"We do not want to speculate at
the moment but we are confident that people responsible for the robbery will be
brought to book."
- TMG
Digital/The Times
