Police crackdown on ATM bombings leads to three arrests, discovery of dye-stained money, explosives and firearms

The South African Police Service (SAPS) Tactical Response Teams (TRT) had on Saturday arrested three suspects in Tembisa, Ekurhuleni in connection with ATM bombings in and around Gauteng.
Gauteng Police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the officers found dye-stained money, explosives and four firearms and ammunition in the suspect’s possession.
She said the trio are expected to appear before the Tembisa Magistrates’ Court on Monday to face charges of illegal possession of explosives, unlicensed firearms and ammunition and being in possession of dye-stained money.
Acting on intelligence-driven information, police identified their first suspect: a 44-year-old South African national.
Mathe said the suspect was cornered and his vehicle searched, where dye-stained money was discovered in the boot.
Subsequently, two additional suspects – a 35-year-old Lesotho national and a 28-year-old Mozambican national – were arrested at a house nearby. Upon searching their belongings, officers found not only more dye-stained money, but also unlicensed firearms, ammunition, and explosives.
Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, the Acting National Commissioner of the SAPS, commended the Erkurhuleni and Tshwane Tactical Response Teams for their success in tracking down criminals implicated in a string of ATM bombings.
He further warned citizens to refrain from picking up and handling any money that has been dyed, since such money holds no value and could further lead to investigations.
“We are mobilising all available resources in order to curb serious and violent crimes”, added Mosiliki.