Information received through the Eyes and Ears (E2) initiative on Saturday morning, 14 November 2026, was swiftly operationalised by members of the Potchefstroom Flying Squad and Stilfontein K9 Unit, resulting in the successful arrest of three Mozambican nationals, aged between 34 and 54, just before lunch on the same day.
A suspicious gold Toyota RunX was spotted travelling from Lichtenburg in the direction of Ventersdorp. Through the effective use of camera monitoring and vehicle-tracing capabilities along the route, the vehicle was intercepted on the N14, near Klerksraal Police Station.
A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery and seizure of a .375 hunting rifle, ammunition, balaclavas, gloves and butcher's knives.
The three occupants were immediately arrested and charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, as well as conspiracy to commit a crime, after they allegedly failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the items found in their possession.
The suspects are expected to appear before the Potchefstroom Magistrates' Court on Monday, 16 November 2026.
North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Arthur Peter Adams, commended the collaboration between the police and private security partners, highlighting the importance of intelligence sharing and proactive policing in preventing crimes.
"The successful interception and arrest of these suspects demonstrate the value of collaboration, intelligence sharing and the effective use of technology in the fight against crime. The Eyes and Ears initiative continues to strengthen our collective efforts to prevent and combat criminal activities. We are particularly encouraged that, through this partnership, we were able to intercept individuals suspected of being involved in rhino poaching, before they could potentially execute their plans." said Lieutenant General Adams.
He further expressed his appreciation to the South African Polygraph and Investigation Services (SAPIS) and Crime Intelligence in the Eastern Cape for their significant role in identifying, tracing and monitoring the suspects, which contributed to the successful operation.
The Eyes and Ears (E2) initiative is a public-private crime fighting partnership involving the South African Police Service (SAPS), Business Against Crime South Africa (BACSA) and the Private Security Industry (PSI). It facilitates the sharing of information and resources to enhance crime prevention, detection and law enforcement operations.