The cross provincial collaboration between police stations and units in the North West and the Northern Cape, resulted in two male hijackers being arrested, the hijacked truck recovered, the occupants of the truck rescued and the vehicle utilized in the commission of the crime seized.
On Wednesday, 13 September 2023 a 5 ton Isuzu truck belonging to a company in Lenasia in Johannesburg South was allegedly traveling on the N12 en-route to Kimberley transporting a consignment of cigarettes valued at approximately 4 million rand.
It is believed that a grey Toyota Corolla Quest intercepted the truck near Warrenton and the five armed male occupants alighted from the vehicle and assaulted the driver, his crew and two other passengers.
After assaulting the victims demanding information about the tracking devices, the suspects drove off with the truck and its cargo in the direction of Hartwater and Taung where they offloaded the consignment of cigarettes in the veld. They then locked the driver and his passengers in the back of the truck where it was hidden in the bushes near the Kolong river area in the vicinity of Manthe Village.
An intelligence driven operation was launched and the truck was located with the assistance of Hartswater SAPS, Detectives, Crime Intelligence and Hartswater K9.
A look out was posted for the grey Toyota Corolla quest which was spotted by members of Taung SAPS who stopped and searched the vehicle. Cash and other valuables were found inside the vehicle.
Other police units and stations who were also involved in the tracking, apprehension and arrest of two of the five suspects were Kimberley SAPS, Kimberley Flying Squad, Kimberley POPS, Crime Intelligence. Frances Baard District, Dr RS Mompati district CI and Visible Policing.
Police are still searching for the three other suspects who fled as well as the consignment of cigarettes.
Further information indicates that the remaining three suspects are armed and deemed dangerous and should not be approached.
The suspects will soon appear in court on charges of truck jacking and kidnapping and additional charges may be added.
The Provincial Commissioner of the Northern Cape, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola commended the cross provincial teams for collaborating their efforts which resulted in the arrest of the suspects, recovering of the stolen truck and the driver and passengers being rescued. This partnership is a clear indication that SAPS will leave no stone unturned despite borders being crossed.
Content retrieved from: https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=48444.
