Five suspects have been arrested after police in the Western Cape disrupted a planned cash-in-transit robbery during a joint intelligence-driven operation.

The operation was carried out by several South African Police Service (SAPS) units on Friday, 13 March 2026, after Crime Intelligence received information about individuals from different provinces who had travelled to the province to carry out a robbery this weekend.

The suspects were initially identified in Kraaifontein and placed under surveillance from Wednesday, 11 March. On Friday, police observed the group travelling towards the Paarl central business district in a white Toyota Fortuner.

Members of the Winelands Highway Patrol and Maitland Flying Squad were alerted and intercepted the vehicle in Paarl. During a search of the vehicle, officers recovered a 9mm pistol with no serial number and 14 rounds of ammunition.

Further investigation led police to a residence in Wallacedene in Kraaifontein, where additional firearms and ammunition were discovered. Officers recovered two 9mm pistols, each loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition, an AK-47 rifle, 79 rounds of rifle ammunition, 25 rounds of 9mm ammunition, a cellular phone and R8,750 in cash.

Five men, aged between 30 and 39, were arrested. The suspects are from Mqanduli (Eastern Cape), Klerksdorp, Rustenburg, Paarl and Wallacedene.

They face charges including possession of a prohibited firearm, as well as possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

The suspects are expected to make their first court appearance in the Kuils River Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 16 March 2026.