Police seize R4.7m in fraudulently bought vehicles, six arrested

Six men have been arrested after police seized six Jetour T2 Hybrid vehicles worth about R4.7 million in Colesberg, Northern Cape, following an intelligence-driven operation into suspected vehicle fraud.

The six men, aged between 28 and 62, were arrested on Friday after police received information about the vehicles travelling from Beaufort West towards Colesberg.

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According to South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Brigadier Mashay Gamieldien, Crime Intelligence in the Western Cape alerted Colesberg police at 2:40 pm, prompting members of the Highway Patrol, Colesberg Visible Policing and Hanover police to position themselves along the identified route.

The six white vehicles were spotted about 35km from Colesberg, each carrying one male occupant who identified himself as the driver.

“The drivers claimed that they were transporting the vehicles to an undisclosed destination in Pretoria,” Gamieldien said.

Suspected fraudulent documents discovered

Gamieldien said further investigations uncovered documents suspected to be fraudulent inside the vehicles.

” The matter was immediately escalated and further verification was conducted in collaboration with Crime Intelligence in the Western Cape,” Gamieldien said.

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All six vehicles were impounded, with their combined value estimated at R4 752 000.

Police further established that six vehicles of the same make had already been impounded in Beaufort West as part of the investigation, bringing the total number of vehicles seized in connection with the case to 12.

Six case dockets relating to the possession of suspected stolen vehicles have been registered at Colesberg SAPS.

In addition to the vehicles, police seized 10 cellphones and documents suspected to be fraudulent.

Police praise intelligence sharing

The acting Northern Cape provincial commissioner, Major General Luntu Ngubelanga, commended the officers involved for their swift response and the coordination between police units across provincial boundaries.

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He said the operation demonstrated the value of intelligence-led policing and co-operation between provinces.

“Crime does not respect provincial boundaries, and neither can our response to it. The swift sharing and operationalisation of intelligence enabled our members to intercept these vehicles and apprehend the suspects.”

Ngubelanga also praised the officers for acting on the information received and said police would continue strengthening partnerships with Crime Intelligence and other law enforcement agencies nationally.

The six suspects remain in police custody and are expected to appear in the Colesberg Magistrate’s Court soon.