The determination of the Western Cape police has led to the recovery of a stolen consignment of cigarettes and alcohol valued at R1.7 million.
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The goods were found on Thursday, nearly 40 kilometres from the hijack location.
Provincial police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi, reported that the consignment was hijacked over a week ago in Klapmuts, Cape Winelands.
‘Reports indicated that police responded to a hijacking in Klapmuts more than a week ago. Investigations confirmed that the delivery vehicle was taken to an unknown location. Intelligence gathering on possible escape routes and suspicious warehouses led the crime combating team to a storage facility in Burgundy Estate, where a large consignment of alcohol and cigarettes was discovered.
‘The man at the warehouse, a foreign national, could not provide proof of purchase and was subsequently arrested for possessing the stolen property,’ Swartbooi said.
Klapmuts is 39.2 kilometres from Burgundy Estate in Cape Town.
The suspect, a 52-year-old man, faces charges of possession of presumed stolen property and is expected to appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 10 June.
Western Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, praised the unwavering efforts of all officers involved in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
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Picture: @SAPoliceService / X