Tobacco vehicle hijacked in Soshanguve
A British American Tobacco delivery vehicle was hijacked in Soshanguve on Tuesday.
A British American Tobacco (BAT) vehicle was hijacked in Soshanguve late on Tuesday, in the latest of a string of similar incidents.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Lolo Mangena said police believed the hijacking was by a syndicate that targeted cigarette vehicles.
“The driver was taking orders of cigarettes at Mdeva’s Tarven at Block R in Soshanguve when three armed men accosted him,” said Mangena.
The driver was held at gunpoint.
“The three men jumped into the vehicle with the driver and forced him to sit in the back seat,” said Mangena.
“They drove towards Winterveldt and stopped in the middle of nowhere to search for the car’s tracking device.
“After they removed the car’s tracking device and took the driver’s cellphone, wallet, and wristwatch they dumped the driver and sped off.”
He said several vehicles belonging to BAT had been targeted in Soshanguve recently.
BAT recently said its vehicle hijackings were of significant concern.
“More than R1-billion has been invested in trade, marketing and distribution operations,” said the tobacco company
“The crime threatens the security of our employees.”
The company said hijackers stole products that could be rapidly dispersed, which made trucks transporting fast-moving consumer goods vulnerable.
The company said it was concerned about the low conviction rates of such criminals, and rapid convictions with stiff penalties were needed.
BAT was hardest hit by this crime because of its huge distribution network system.
“With a single cigarette costing R3 in the street, criminals could make R30 000 from one hit,” said the company.
“Those behind these attacks, which are carefully planned, are well-organised syndicates with established distribution networks.
“It is a serious problem requiring serious political will to address.”
Also read:
Cigarettes worth half a million recovered
Delivery vehicles robbed in Soshanguve
Three arrested after police chase
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