Stolen Toyota Land Cruiser recovered: Mozambican national arrested in Mpumalanga
Image: SAPS
Police in Mpumalanga have arrested a 23-year-old Mozambican national in connection with a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser bakkie.
The vehicle, reported missing from Marquard in the Free State, was intercepted by authorities on Wednesday evening.
According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, members of the provincial anti-hijacking task team, in collaboration with Vispol units from Ehlanzeni and Tonga, acted on a tip-off from the public.
"The information was then followed by the police, and they intercepted the vehicle between Low's Creek and Kaapmuiden, at the corner of R38 Road and the N4 Road," Mdhluli stated.
The stolen Land Cruiser was found fitted with false Gauteng registration plates. The driver was immediately apprehended and charged with possession of a suspected stolen vehicle. He is expected to appear in court soon.
Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, the acting provincial commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, praised the vigilant whistleblowers for their crucial information and commended the swift response of the police officers, which led to both the vehicle's recovery and the suspect's arrest.
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The Toyota Land Cruiser, reported missing from Marquard in the Free State, was intercepted by police in Mpumalanga.
Image: SAPS
Last year, IOL reported that a 32-year-old man Brian Kagiso Mahlo appeared before the Thabamoopo Magistrate's Court in Limpopo on Monday for possession of a stolen vehicle, a white Toyota Land Cruiser Prado VX.
'His arrest comes after members of Limpopo SAPS provincial anti-smuggling task team received a tip-off about a stolen vehicle that was in the process of being smuggled out of the country to Zimbabwe, through Beitbridge port of entry,' Limpopo police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, said at the time.
The police team responded promptly, and the white Toyota Prado VX was spotted. The vehicle was intercepted along the R37 road from Lebowakgomo to Polokwane.
The popular sport utility vehicle had been reported stolen in the Villieria policing area, in Tshwane.
'The police stopped the vehicle, and upon searching it, the driver, who is a South African, was unable to produce the valid documents for the vehicle. He was apprehended on the spot for possession of a presumed stolen motor vehicle,' said Ledwaba.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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