Latest news with #stolengoods
News24
4 days ago
- Business
- News24
Police crack down on sophisticated cross-border smuggling network
Police have dismantled what is believed to be 'one of the most sophisticated cross-border smuggling networks', seizing suspected stolen goods worth more than R3 million. According to Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, during the early hours of Thursday, the Limpopo Anti-Smuggling Task Team intercepted a truck pulling trailers near the Polokwane weighbridge. The vehicle was en route from Cape Town to Malawi via the Beitbridge border post. Following an extensive 18-hour operation and thorough search, the joint team recovered various car and motorcycle parts. Among the parts were those of a Ford Ranger reported stolen in Nyanga last month and 60 disassembled motorcycles concealed in drums and containers, which were reported stolen from multiple Western Cape police stations, including Bellville, Mfuleni, Muizenberg, Nyanga, Milnerton, Sea Point, and Athlone. 'In addition, various electronic goods, including plasma TVs, sound systems, solar tower batteries, and cellphones, suspected to be stolen, were recovered. The Scania truck and trailers used in the smuggling operation were also seized as part of the investigation. The total value of recovered goods is over R3 million,' Ledwaba said. Four men, aged 37 to 50, were arrested and will appear in the Polokwane Magistrate's Court on Monday on charges of possession of suspected stolen goods. Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe said: 'This breakthrough represents a major victory against sophisticated criminal networks that have been exploiting our borders to traffic stolen goods. The collaboration between our Anti-Smuggling Task Team and private security partners demonstrates the power of coordinated law enforcement efforts. We will continue to target these criminal syndicates relentlessly until they are completely dismantled.'
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Shoes and protein bars among valuable stolen goods in Bedford
Shoes and protein bars were among a haul of stolen goods recovered by police worth hundreds of thousands of perfume and baby clothes were also found at a three-storey building on Midland Road in Police had acquired a warrant for the location after intelligence suggested it was being used for illicit activity.A man was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods and possession of criminal property and was later released on bail. Sgt Slav Konopka said: "We take the handling of stolen goods extremely seriously, as we recognise that the profits often fuel wider criminal networks and may involve the exploitation and coercion of vulnerable individuals. "This type of crime also hits retailers hard, which is turn drives up costs that ultimately get passed on to us as the customers." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
