Crime Reporter
SOUTH Afican police (Saps) in Limpopo province bordering Zimbabwe have recovered 10 suspected stolen cars worth R3.9 million from suspected cross-border criminal syndicates and six suspects have been arrested.
The vehicles were Zimbabwe bound and the police also recovered illicit cigarettes and controlled medicines worth R5.7 million in the same operation which involved the South African National Defence Forces.
Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the operations focused on routes leading towards the Limpopo River and the Zimbabwean border.
“Six suspects have been arrested, 10 stolen vehicles valued at R3.9 million and allegedly destined for Zimbabwe recovered, and illicit cigarettes and controlled medicines worth approximately R5.7 million seized during a joint operation,” he said.
“The operation was conducted by the police, SA National Defence Force (SANDF) and other law enforcement agencies.”
Ledwaba said the intelligence-based operations were conducted between September 21 and October 25, targeting cross-border criminal syndicates operating along key routes, border areas and illegal crossing points in Limpopo.
The operations resulted in the recovery of stolen vehicles, the seizure of illicit goods and the arrest of suspects allegedly linked to organised crime networks.
The key routes and hotspots, include the N1 corridor, Musina, Tshamutumbu, Makhado, Malala Drift, Sandquest and surrounding areas.
“As a result of these operations, 10 vehicles were recovered, including a Haval H6, Ford Ranger, Toyota Fortuner, two Nissan Navaras, VW Polo, Subaru Outback, Suzuki Ertiga and Mercedes-Benz,” Ledwaba said.
Preliminary investigations indicated the vehicles were destined for Zimbabwe.
Ledwaba said police had identified a common modus operandi involving false registration plates, tampered vehicle identification numbers (VINs), removed engine numbers and other methods associated with organised vehicle-smuggling syndicates.
Hordes of vehicles believed stolen enter Zimbabwe daily by driving them across unofficial crossing points on the Limpopo River.
While the cars are said to be stolen, other unverified sources have pointed at insurance fraud where the cars were conveniently reported stolen after they crossed the border into a foreign country.