Polokwane – Police have recovered a stolen Toyota Hilux Legend Edition double cab bakkie valued at R700 000 and arrested the 45-year-old driver during an anti-smuggling operation.
Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said the suspect was arrested on Friday, 19 June 2026, along the N1 South public road outside Polokwane.
Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said intelligence information received about the smuggling of stolen high-end vehicles out of South Africa into neighbouring countries led to the arrest and recovery of the Toyota bakkie.
“Information indicated the bakkie was being driven from Gauteng province to Limpopo province, intended for smuggling through Beitbridge Port of Entry,” said the police spokesperson.
The anti-smuggling operation involved the Provincial Tracking Team and Provincial Investigation Unit with support from CAP Specialized, Tracker Connect, Insurance Crime Bureau, Tshimollo Security and Investigation, and Shadow Secure Security.
The stolen vehicle was spotted traveling at high speed along the N1 South, near the Shell Ultra City filling station, where it was stopped.
Preliminary investigations revealed the double cab was the one reported stolen at Loate Police Station in Tshwane.
A 45-year-old driver was arrested on the spot and charged with possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle.
The Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, commended the operational teams in executing the arrest and recovery of the bakkie.
“This recovery demonstrates what we can achieve through intelligence-driven operations and strong partnerships between police and private security role players,” said Lieutenant General Hadebe.
“We will continue to target cross-border vehicle smuggling syndicates and ensure stolen vehicles are recovered, and criminals are apprehended to face the full might of the law,” she concluded.
The suspect is expected to appear before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 22 June 2026, facing a charge of possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle.
Police investigations are continuing.
