R100m heist: Fake IDs for gang?

2006-03-26 22:54

Borrie la Grange

Johannesburg - Police believe that a gang of 10 armed robbers who lifted more than R100m at Johannesburg International Airport must have had false permits to be in the high-security loading zone.

The loading zone, where the money was stolen while about $16.5m (about R103.3m) was being offloaded, is one of four at the airport.

Access to these zones, where SAA flight 237 was being offloaded, is accessible only with an Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) permit, said senior superintendent Vish Naidoo of the national police.

Meanwhile, a source inside SAA said the robbery - the sixth major one in five years - could lead to bad vibes between Acsa and international airlines.

There also seems to be confusion about who was responsible for what in these high-security areas.

Naidoo said a gang of about 10 - split in two groups - hit the airport at 10:30 on Sunday while SAA's valuta (dollar and rand notes) was being offloaded under guard from flight 237.

Money destined for other countries

The aircraft had arrived from Heathrow Airport in London and was parked at Delta parking, one of the four loading zones, when the robbers hit.

The valuta was on its way to Tanzania and another country in Africa.

Naidoo said: "Two robbers armed with assault rifles overpowered and disarmed the two policemen and two guards keeping an eye on the money bags.

"The robbers fled with their loot on foot to where accomplices were waiting at a gate."

Up to six other robbers, also armed with assault rifles, had simultaneously held up guards at the gates.

The gang then loaded the money on to a bakkie and left without firing a single shot.

Naidoo said police knew through which gates the robbers had left, but didn't know how they had gained access.

They suspected the robbers had used false permits.

The SAA source said the airline was paying Acsa for services to ensure its clients' freight was safe - which didn't happen in this instance.

But, Acsa spokesperson Solomon Makgale said contracted security guards were responsible for guarding access points to the airport, while the guards responsible for the money, were employed by a company appointed by the airline.

SAA spokesperson Jacqui O'Sullivan denied this.

Not our responsibility, says SAA

"SAA doesn't have its own private contracted guards at the airport.

"Guarding of precious freight is the responsibility of the police and Guardforce, Acsa's contracted security guards," she said.

Police took over and boosted security at the airport in 2004 after three policemen had been wounded during a shootout with robbers at one of the loading zones.

- Beeld