Limpopo police say a vehicle theft syndicate operating on the Beitbridge border post was cracked on Wednesday night‚ with the arrests of five people.
The sting operation‚ led by a crime intelligence unit‚ also recovered four stolen vehicles.
“This syndicate was smuggling stolen motor vehicles from South Africa to Zimbabwe through Limpopo River for some time‚ until this special operation was established and conducted last night.
“During this operation‚ five suspects – aged 40‚ 32 ‚ 33‚ 31 and 36 – from Senwabarwana‚ Musina and Soshanguve in the Gauteng Province were arrested and four stolen motor vehicles awaiting to be smuggled were seized‚” said Limpopo police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe.
The recovered vehicles include a white Toyota Hilux single cab‚ which was hijacked in September in Hammanskraal‚ Gauteng; a new white Hyundai H1 truck‚ which was to be delivered to the Department of Public Works in Pretoria; a silver BMW 7 series‚ which was intended to be reported stolen after having been smuggled out of the country; and a Toyota Avanza‚ which was hijacked in Brooklyn‚ Gauteng in October last year.
The five suspects will appear at the Musina Magistrate’s Court on Thursday on a charge of possession of stolen motor vehicles.
Investigations continue‚ Ngoepe said.
– TMG Digital