Busted for stolen Chrome
In one of the biggest busts that Middelburg CPF and 911 response have been involved in, trucks believed to be transporting stolen chrome from around the Steelpoort/ Burgersfort area were stopped about five kilometres outside Middelburg on Sunday night where their cargo was checked and the drivers taken into police custody.
They were found with fraudulent paperwork after initially being spotted loading chrome from what is suspected to be an illegal mine and without authorization.
But just a few hours later and without proper explanation, police let the suspects go and take their cargo with them, according to Phoenix Flying Squad Security who were instrumental in tracking and locating the trucks.
According to the Middelburg 911 group, they received information from the Lydenburg Fire Chief to be on the lookout for four trucks travelling towards Middelburg with suspected stolen cargo. Each truck was loaded with about R100 000 worth of Met Grade Chrome.
Members of 911 were sent out to various spots to be on the lookout for the trucks and a makeshift roadblock was set up about 5km outside Middelburg.
As soon as the first truck was pulled over and suspicions verified, the Middelburg SAPS were called in.
Thereafter one by one the trucks were pulled over with the exception of one truck – which somehow evaded authorities and got away without being detected.
According to the owner of Phoenix Flying Squad Security, Jandre Stander, it is shocking that the truck drivers were let go.
“We don’t understand exactly the reason they were let go because the paperwork in their possession was clearly fraudulent and they were transporting stolen Chrome. We’ve made similar arrests with great success last year and this bust should have definitely been followed up and the suspects charged. But they were let go and this is very frustrating for us,” he said.
Phoenix Flying Squad Security are based in Lydenburg and regularly apprehend truck drivers for transporting stolen Chrome – and according to them this case was no different and should have been a routine arrest and investigation for Police.
At the time of going to print, the Middelburg SAPS were yet to comment on the matter.
