Smuggling foiled: 3 Pretoria vehicles intercepted en route to border
A man has been arrested for being in possession of a stolen car that was allegedly going to be smuggled into Zimbabwe.
Police are working to unravel the circumstances surrounding the theft and the attempted smuggling of several vehicles, all of them Toyotas, recently stolen in Pretoria and seemingly heading for the Zimbabwe border.
On Thursday, members of the Anti-Smuggling Task Team pounced on a Toyota Prado in Lebowakgomo after receiving a tip-off.
The Prado, valued at R900 000, was stolen in Villieria, Pretoria on Monday. The driver was arrested after he could not give a satisfactory answer about being in possession of the vehicle.
A day earlier, a Member of Parliament’s Toyota VW Landcruiser was stolen from the Menlyn Mall parking lot. Police managed to track down the MP’s vehicle in Lebowakgomo, valued at R4m, on the same day it was stolen.
A 44-year-old man was arrested on Monday for being in possession of a vehicle reported stolen in Wierdabrug, Centurion, on July 31.
SAPS spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba says preliminary investigations revealed that the car was intended to be smuggled into Zimbabwe via the Beitbridge Border Post.
“Police received information about a white Toyota Fortuner that was travelling from Gauteng to Musina in the Vhembe District.
“The police reacted swiftly and commenced investigations. The motor vehicle was spotted driving along the N1 north next to a farm outside Polokwane.”
He says the suspect was nabbed by the members of the Anti-Smuggling Task Team.
According to Malesela, the suspect was immediately placed under arrest for possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
“The suspect will appear in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court soon, facing a charge of possession of a stolen motor vehicle.”
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