A 53-year-old man was arrested by the Hawks in Gauteng for allegedly smuggling stolen cars across the border.
Enock Kalubangwe (53) appeared at the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrates Court on a charge of possession of suspected stolen property.
He was arrested on Friday, 16 September, during an operation by the Hawks’ Tactical Operations Management Section.
“The information of the criminals who are allegedly smuggling stolen vehicles to neighbouring countries led the team to agricultural premises in Bapsfontein where a man driving a Ford Ranger bakkie was detected,” police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Bonnie Nxumalo said.
The man attempted to avoid arrest when he spotted the cops and he was intercepted.
An investigation was conducted which led to the recovery of two trucks. One was hijacked in Villiers in April this year while the second one was hijacked in Fochville in July last year.
“A number of vehicle registration documents, false registration plates and cellphones were confiscated. It was further discovered that the suspect’s bakkie was stolen at Durban Central in July 2021,” Nxumalo said.
Kalubangwe was charged and detained. He was remanded in custody until 27 September when he will reappear before court.
Nxumalo said more arrests cannot be ruled out as the investigation is ongoing.
