Johannesburg - Gauteng police have once again made a significant breakthrough with the arrest two suspects linked to what has been dubbed the "airport following" robberies committed in and around the Johannesburg area.
The arrests were made on Sunday night on the N3 highway by members from the South African Police Service National Investigation Unit (Ninu) and the Flying Squad.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo explained that the arrests were made after the unit received intelligence that a group of men using a white Mercedes Benz were targeting commuters traveling from OR Tambo International Airport.
"The team followed up on the intelligence and spotted the Mercedes traveling from the airport. Attempts to have the suspect vehicle stop led to a shootout on the N3 near the Marlboro off-ramp. One male suspect was shot dead and two men were arrested.
Picture: Supplied
"The police also recovered two unlicensed firearms. The Mercedes which the suspects were using was reported hijacked in the Norwood area in October this year.
ALSO READ: Cops nab OR Tambo airport 'follow home' suspects
Naidoo said the suspects were likely to face charges of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, armed robbery and murder.
Picture: Supplied
He added that there was a possibility that the men could be linked to at least five other follow home robberies.
"The recovered firearms be analysed by our Forensic experts to determine if they were used in other crimes," Naidoo said.
The suspects will appear either in the Kempton Park Magistrates' Court or Alexander Magistrates' court on Tuesday on the first three charges at least, Naidoo confirmed.