Jo'burg pair arrested with R8m rocket launcher head

Two men have been caught with the head of a hand-held rocket launcher in Johannesburg, in their possession, police said on Thursday (23/01/2014).

"Our intelligence operatives responded to information that a sale of explosives was taking place in the Johannesburg CBD where they found a South African and a Mozambican seated in a grey Mercedes-Benz," Lt-Gen Solomon Makgale said.

The car was searched and the head of the launcher, "valued at R8 million", was found inside.

While at the scene police stopped and searched a second vehicle where they found three men with diamonds.

The men were taken in for questioning and the diamonds were confiscated.

Makgale said it was not clear if the two groups of men were connected in any way.

The two men arrested with the rocket launcher head were expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Monday on charges of unlawful possession of explosives.

Makgale said the investigation was continuing and more arrests were likely. - Sapa