A 39-year-old man will appear before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court tomorrow on possession of an alleged stolen motor vehicle and possession of fraudulent documents charges.

The man, who has been linked to a cross-border smuggling ring, was arrested during an intelligence-driven operation led by the SAPS’ Anti-Smuggling Unit in the early hours of Friday morning.

Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba says information was received about a man driving an SUV en route to Polokwane. The vehicle was allegedly hijacked in Randfontein.

“The suspect was intercepted along the N1 South outside Polokwane. Preliminary investigations revealed that the vehicle was hijacked on March 12 and was meant to be smuggled into Zimbabwe through the Beitbridge Border Post,” he says.

Ledwaba says the suspect is already facing a similar charge after he was recently caught trying to smuggle a vehicle into Mozambique through the Lembobo Border Post.

“Further investigations are underway, and additional arrests have not been ruled out,” he adds.

Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe says the arrest sends a strong message to individuals involved in smuggling and other forms of organised crime that the SAPS, along with its partners, remains vigilant and committed to upholding the law.

“We will continue to disrupt the operations of criminal networks that threaten the economic stability and security of our country,” she says.