Two men have been arrested in Naledi, Soweto, South Africa, after Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) Tactical Response Unit officers discovered suspected human hearts and lungs alongside a hijacked government vehicle during a crime prevention operation.
According to JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla, officers were acting on a tip-off on Thursday about a vehicle allegedly being stripped at a residence on Nape Street.
When officers arrived, they found the property's gate open and entered the yard. Inside the house, they encountered one suspect, who directed them to the garage where they found a white Volkswagen Caddy belonging to South Africa's National Department of Health. A police verification confirmed that the vehicle had been hijacked and was already being stripped for parts.
Officers continued searching the property and found a second suspect hiding in the backyard. During the search, they also discovered two buckets allegedly containing human organs, believed to be hearts and lungs.
The suspects were arrested and detained at Naledi Police Station on charges of possession of a hijacked vehicle and possession of human organs.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the origin of the organs and are also searching for the property's owner. Police have not yet indicated whether the organs are linked to a murder, medical facility or any other criminal activity.
JMPD has praised the officers involved for their swift response, saying the investigation remains active as detectives work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the shocking discovery.
