Limpopo police dismantle vehicle smuggling ring, recover R1.4 million in stolen cars
End of the road
Limpopo authorities have made significant strides in combating vehicle smuggling, showcasing effective collaboration between law enforcement agencies to prevent the illicit trafficking of stolen vehicles.
Image: Supplied: SAPS
Limpopo police have dismantled a vehicle smuggling ring, arresting three suspects and recovering two vehicles valued at about R1.4 million.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said that a joint operation between the SAPS Anti-Smuggling Team, Tshimollo Security and Investigation, and Reflex Anti-Hijacking Security successfully intercepted a Toyota Hilux GD6 double cab on the R101 near the Polokwane weighbridge.
Mashaba explained that during the interception, three suspects fled the scene — one managed to evade police, while two were apprehended.
Three suspects fled during a police operation — two caught, one still at large.
Image: Supplied: SAPS
“During the stop, one male suspect fled into nearby bushes, while two female suspects attempted to escape but were apprehended after a foot chase. The female suspects, aged 19 and 20, were arrested and are facing charges of possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle.”
He further stated that initial investigations confirmed the vehicle was stolen on May 16 in the Garsfontein policing area of Pretoria, Gauteng province.
The Star also reported that on Monday, police intercepted a Toyota Corolla Cross at Mokopane CBD on the R101, reported stolen on May 16 in the Wierdabrug policing area. The driver, a 34-year-old undocumented foreign national, was arrested following a high-speed chase.
Mashaba stated that both vehicles, valued at approximately R1.4 million, were destined to be smuggled across the Beitbridge Port of Entry into Zimbabwe on Sunday, 18 May 2025.
The Toyota Hilux suspects and the Corolla Cross driver are due in Polokwane and Mokopane magistrates' courts, respectively, on May 20.
“Both suspects arrested with the Toyota Hilux will appear before the Polokwane Magistrate Court on Tuesday, 20 May 2025, while the suspect arrested with the Toyota Corolla Cross will appear before the Mokopane Magistrate Court on the same day.”
Meanwhile, Limpopo Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe praised the teams for their relentless efforts in recovering the stolen vehicles.
The Star
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