Gruesome discovery in Soweto: JMPD nabs two suspects with hijacked vehicle and human organs
The suspects, whose identities have not yet been released, have been processed and detained at the Naledi SAPS.
In a chilling operation that has sent shockwaves through the community of Naledi, Soweto, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) Tactical Response Unit arrested two male suspects after discovering a stripped government vehicle and a cache of human organs at a residence on Thursday evening.
The arrests occurred on July 9 following a tip-off received by officers conducting routine crime prevention patrols.
The information led the tactical team to a property on Nape Street, where a vehicle was reportedly being dismantled.
ALSO READ: Carjacking syndicate uncovered in Mobeni Heights
Upon arrival, officers found the property gate open and the front door of the house ajar. After receiving no response to their knocks, they entered the premises and confronted one male suspect inside. The individual claimed the vehicle being stripped belonged to the homeowner and directed officers to the garage.
Inside the garage, authorities made a startling find: a white VW Caddy belonging to the National Department of Health. A verification check confirmed the vehicle had been positively flagged as hijacked and was already in the process of being stripped for parts.
Expanding their search, officers discovered a second male suspect attempting to hide in the backyard. Both individuals were immediately placed under arrest.
However, the investigation took a macabre turn when a subsequent search of the yard unearthed two buckets containing what has been identified as human organs – specifically hearts and lungs.
The suspects, whose identities have not yet been released, have been processed and detained at the Naledi SAPS. They currently face charges of possession of a hijacked vehicle and possession of human organs.
ALSO READ: Hijackers sentenced to seven years behind bars
“The JMPD commends the outstanding and vigilant work of the officers who executed this operation,” the department stated in an official communication.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. The South African Police Service (SAPS) and JMPD are now working tirelessly to determine the origin of the human organs and to locate the homeowner associated with the address.
