BARRAGE – Police have recovered a hijacked truck and its cargo of mielies with a combined value of R740 000 following a swift tracking operation in The Barrage.

The incident began on October 13 when the truck owner received tampering alerts from a vehicle tracking company at approximately 08:00. Alarm bells were raised when the owner was unable to contact or trace the driver.

Sergeant Sophia Gaboutlwele told Ster the vehicle was hijacked near Kliprivier while en route to deliver mielies in the Vereeniging area.

“The tracking signal was eventually picked up on the R42 Barrage Road at around 12:23, prompting police action,” she said.

A multidisciplinary team comprising The Barrage SAPS Vispol, detectives, K9 unit, Sedibeng Crime Intelligence, the Vehicle Response Unit, and rural patrollers joined forces for the operation.

Their co-ordinated efforts successfully recovered the truck, valued at R600 000, along with its R140 000 load of mielies.

Police confirmed that one suspect has been arrested and charged with possession of suspected stolen property in connection with the hijacking.