Cape Town – Two SA Police Service (SAPS) members aged 33 and 37 have been arrested in connection with a highway heist of abalone worth half a million rand.
The accused will appear in the Somerset West Magistrate’s Court on Monday, (4 March 2024), on charges of hijacking and theft.
Allegations are that on 10 August 2022 at about 23:58 a truck was transporting abalone valued at R500 000 from Buffelsjag abalone farm, Hermanus to Cape Town International Airport to be exported.
As the truck with two crew members approached the Baden Powell off-ramp along the N2 freeway, it was approached from the back by two marked police vehicles with sirens and flashing blue lights.
The driver of the truck stopped next to the road.
The occupants of the police vehicles, who were all dressed in police uniforms, allegedly confronted the driver and crew member of the truck.
Both the crew members were allegedly requested to hand their cellular telephones over to the police members.
Two firearms, a rifle, and a handgun, were allegedly taken from the possession of one crew member of the truck.
It was further alleged that the driver was put in the back of one of the police vehicles while his passengers were placed in the back of the other police vehicle and driven away from the scene.
The crew of the truck was later released in a bush area in Mitchells Plain while the truck was recovered abandoned at Wolfgat Nature Reserve, Mitchells Plain with all the cargo of abalone removed.
A hijacking case was opened and is investigated by the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes, Provincial Investigations Unit.
Two marked police vehicles used by members of Operation Restore were identified as the vehicles involved in pulling the truck over.
Both vehicles’ Aerial Vehicle Locations placed them at different crime scenes.
The drivers of the vehicles were identified, and their cellular telephone records were obtained.
The records of both drivers placed them at or near the crime scenes.
It was also established that both members were off duty at the time of the incident but were authorised to have the marked police vehicles.
On Friday, (1 March 2024), the investigation team of the Provincial Investigation Unit, SVC, assisted by members of Crime Intelligence carried out a planned Take Down Operation.
The team arrested one member at Sea Point SAPS and the other at the Anti-Gang Unit, Faure.
Western Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile said corrupt actions by police members, tarnish the reputation of the police and will not be tolerated.
He further emphasised that police officials who are involved in criminal activities will face, without doubt, the full might of the law.
