In a recent anti-smuggling operation conducted along the N1 South, adjacent to Shell Ultra City and between R71 robots, two male suspects aged 25 and 39 were apprehended separately on Monday, 4 March 2024.
The charges against them include possession of stolen motor vehicles, contravention of the Immigration Act, and reckless and negligent driving.
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The operation was initiated based on intelligence received from the Crime Intelligence unit regarding a stolen vehicle from Gauteng en-route to Zimbabwe through Beitbridge.
The police swiftly acted on the information and successfully intercepted the vehicle on N1 South, near Shell Ultra City, leading to the arrest of one suspect for possession of a stolen motor vehicle and violating the Immigration Act.
During the arrest, a silver Isuzu Kb 4×4 valued at R400 000 was recovered. It has been alleged that the apprehended suspect had been previously involved in smuggling multiple 4×4 vehicles out of the country. Preliminary investigations revealed that the motor vehicle in question had been hijacked on Friday, 1 March 2024, in Soshanguve.
In another incident on Tuesday, 5 March 2024, a 39-year-old male suspect was apprehended after a high-speed chase along the N1 bypass behind Peter Mokaba. The chase culminated in the suspect being cornered near R71 robots while driving a suspected stolen Ford Raptor, Charcoal in colour.
The vehicle in question was reported hijacked in Moffatview, Gauteng. Further investigations have revealed that the suspect is a frequent traveller across Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, allegedly involved in the transportation of stolen 4×4 vehicles.
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The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, expressed satisfaction with the successful arrests of both suspects. The first suspect is scheduled to appear at the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 6 March 2024, while the second suspect is slated to appear on Thursday, March 7th, 2024.
These arrests highlight the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat vehicle theft and smuggling activities in the region.
