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Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
SOUTH African police have arrested four suspects and recovered a second stolen vehicle in Limpopo province that was being transported to Zimbabwe while concealed under a consignment.
Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the quartet was nabbed near Westenburg along the N1 highway around 3.30AM on Wednesday morning.
The incident occurred a few hours after a specialised crime busting unit, the Hawks, arrested three men aged between 26 and 39 who were driving a stolen Toyota Fortuner heading to Malawi via Zimbabwe.
“The snap operation comprising members of Crime Intelligence, police officers from Westenburg and officials from the Department of Roads and Transport yielded positive results when four suspects were arrested while transporting a stolen motor vehicle in the early hours of Wednesday,” said Brig Mojapelo.
“What at first looked like a consignment of snacks and other goods carried on a trailer, turned out to be a stolen vehicle that was being transported along the N1 Road.
“The police were busy with their routine duties along the N1 road, south of Polokwane, when they stopped a Toyota Hilux towing a trailer after receiving information about a stolen vehicle that was being transported along the N1.”
He said the vehicle, whose value is yet to be ascertained was concealed under a consignment of assorted groceries.
“As police were busy searching the vehicle and its trailer; unpacking the snacks and removing the foil, a grey Ford Ranger was found loaded on the trailer,” he said.
Brig Mojapelo said the suspects, aged between 30 and 40, were arrested on the spot and will soon appear at the Polokwane Magistrates Court.
He said the four had been charged for possessing a suspected stolen vehicle.
The vehicle, he said, was reported stolen in Gauteng Province. However, he could not immediately release the names and nationalities of the suspects.
The Chronicle is reliably informed that there is a marked increase in syndicates operating from Tanzania, Malawi and Zimbabwe involved in cross border theft of motor vehicles from South Africa.
It is understood that most of the vehicles are smuggled through the over 200 illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River.
In some instances the criminals use donkeys to pull the vehicles across the sandy river-bed.
Online Reporter