Police in Limpopo recover truck, grader valued at R4,5m intended for smuggling into Zimbabwe

A hijacked flat deck truck carrying a grader has been recovered in Limpopo apparently en-route to being smuggled into neighbouring Zimbabwe.

Police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, said: “According to information received, police were tipped off about the suspect involved in a carjacking of a white flat deck truck loaded with a yellow grader that was travelling from Namibia.

“The incident happened at Coligny policing area in the North West province. Apparently, the truck was travelling to Musina [in Limpopo] with the intention of being smuggled out of the country.”

Ledwaba said a team of from the Polokwane and Musina Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit spotted the truck at Musina town on Saturday. The suspect, aged 31, was approached and arrested for possession of presumed stolen vehicle.

“The following day on Sunday, further tip-off was received that the yellow grader was at Louis Trichardt in Makhado. Police immediately activated an operation, and the arrested suspect took them to where the grader was hidden,” he said.

The truck is valued at R1,5m and the grader at R3m.

The suspect is expected to appear in the Musina Magistrate Court today [Tueday].