Five arrested as alleged truck hijacking syndicated dismantled

An alleged hijacking syndicate was dismantled by law enforcement and five suspects aged between 16 and 48 were arrested.

Sep 13, 2022 - 18:27

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Five arrested as alleged truck hijacking syndicated dismantled

Five suspects involved in an alleged hijacking syndicate were arrested by law enforcement in Mpumalanga.

According to South African Police Service spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, the five suspects are aged between 16 and 48 years old. They were arrested during a sting operation on Monday, 12 September at Kwamhlanga.

A sting operation was carried out following information received

A sting operation was started following an alert by a vehicle tracking company about a trailer which was reportedly stolen on Friday, 9 September. Mohlala says that details outlined that the truck trailer was kept around Empumelelweni Section in Kwamhlanga.

The team followed the information and found five people. They were met with a ‘shocking discovery’ of an alleged workshop with a number of suspected stolen trailers and other items including two blue Taute Liner Superlink trailers.

The trailers contained Aqueous cream body lotions. Mohlala says that information suggests that the trailers were hijacked in Boksburg North on 9 September. The horse had already been unhooked from the trailers and has yet to be located.

An eight-ton Man truck was also found at the premises

The team conducting the sting operation found two containers allegedly stolen during robberies at City Deep and Heidelberg. One Frontliner horse was reportedly still hooked to 2-side dipper trailers.

An eight-ton Man truck loaded with the body lotions, two empty drop side trailers and five empty flatbed trailers – one was half loaded with oranges.

Two of the suspects are from Mozambique while the other three are from Zimbabwe. Photo: saps.gov.za

Who are the suspects?

Mohala stated that a preliminary probe revealed that two of the suspects are from Mozambique while the other three are from Zimbabwe.

“Police are working in collaboration with the department of Home Affairs to ascertain their status in the country. Should it be found that they do not possess legal documentation to be in South Africa, further charges with regard to contravention of the Immigration Act will be added,”
said Mohlala.

The five suspects are expected to appear before the Kwamhlanga Magistrates’ Court soon. They are facing charges of being found in the possession of suspected stolen properties. They could also face charges of being linked with a number of hijacking incidents, robberies and kidnappings.