Four suspects were arrested for trading stolen cigarettes. On Wednesday, 10 February, suspected stolen cigarettes were found in the possession of the four suspects. According to information from the police, they followed a lead from an informant and the Tactical Response Team (TRT) of Witbank Police, along with Fidelity, was able to recover the stolen property. According to Mr Jacques Pretorius who represented Fidelity on Wednesday, it is estimated that the total amount of cigarettes were around R350 000.
Here are, from left: Jacques Pretorius (Fidelity), Sgt AS Hlatshwayo (TRT Witbank), Const MM Selahle, Capt MC Monoge (TRT Witbank), Const J Sibeko (TRT Witbank) and Const FB Mthimuneye (TRT Witbank).
“We suspect the truck was on its way to Middelburg when it was hijacked in eMalahleni, and only a few hours later, the suspects were in custody. We are still on the tracks of the hijackers, but for now we are keeping the store owners in here,” Capt Eddie Hall, police spokesperson said.
It also came to light that one of the the four suspects not only faces a charge of possession of suspected stolen property, but when police arrested them, he had an unlicensed firearm and ammunition in his possession.
According to police, he does have a permit, but it expired on 5 February 2015.
Some of the cigarettes recovered where it was being sold after a truck was hijacked carrying the cigarettes, presumably on its way to Middelburg, on Wednesday, 10 February.
He said that while he was searching for the stolen property, he came upon the ammuntion. The suspect showed the officer the firearm, with five bullets in the magazine as well as one in the chamber.
On question, the suspect said that he has not yet renewed the permit for his firearm.
