Police officers intercepted and pulled over a suspected stolen vihicle along the N1 road under Botlokwa on Wednesday 09 November.
The Toyota Prado was being driven by a 39-year-old female suspect who was subsequently arrested.
STOLEN VEHICLE HEADING TO ZIMBABWE
The information was provided by the members of the Crime Intelligence Unit about a hijacked Toyota Prado motor vehicle. It was intended to be smuggled to Zimbabwe via Beitbridge Port of entry.
The members of Limpopo Tracking Team, SPS High Risk and Tshimollo Security jointly operationalized the information given. They subsequently spotted the motor vehicle fitting the description of Sekonye village.
The motor vehicle was stopped, searched and Police found false registration number plates attached on the vehicle. The motor vehicle was also tested and later it was discovered that it was hijacked earlier this month at Randburg in Gauteng Province.
ARRESTED DRIVER TO APPEAR IN COURT
The driver of the motor vehicle failed to provide a satisfactory explanation. She was immediately arrested for possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle valued at R400.000.
A 39-year-old female suspect believed to be a Zimbabwean National will appear before the Morebeng Magistrate’s Court soon. She faces charges of possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle.
Ealier this year, Limpopo Police expressed their concern about the escalation of smuggling of vehicles to Zimbabwean side.
A crime prevention campaign was carried out in Musina and the surrounding area of the Beit Bridge border post by police and other law enforcement agencies.
So far 200 top-of-the-range vehicles have been impounded under a joint operation between the Zimbabwe Republic Police and Interpol targeting vehicles stolen in SADC.
Smuggling of vehicles by syndicates from South Africa across the Limpopo River, usually a very shallow and almost dry river, has been rife and most of the vehicles will be en-route to Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania although some will be destined for the Zimbabwean market.
This has prompted Interpol to launch an operation code-named “Take Back”. Targeting stolen cars worldwide and the ZRP is also among the countries participating in the operation.
