A gang of blue light hijackers who had been terrorising motorists along the N3 Highway between Villiers and the De Hoek Toll Gate have been arrested in a well-coordinated law enforcement operation.
The suspects had been using an Audi A4 fitted with blue lights and sirens to pull over unsuspecting motorists between Villiers and the De Hoek Toll Gate before forcibly taking their vehicles.
Authorities launched a multidisciplinary operation after receiving intelligence about the gang’s movements near Grootvlei.
The operation included SAPS Counter Intelligence Investigation, Gauteng TRT, the SAPS Anti-Gang Unit, Gauteng Traffic Police Airwing, CAP Specialised Operations, Tracker Connect, M&Z Werke Security, Midvaal Peace Officers, Delport Securitas, and local community members and farmers.
The suspects were caught in the act as they attempted to hijack a Toyota Land Cruiser.
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When law enforcement closed in, they tried to flee, leading to a high-speed chase after they took the Grootvlei offramp. Officers managed to intercept the vehicle, arresting two suspects, one of whom sustained a gunshot wound. Two male victims who had been held hostage inside the hijackers’ vehicle were rescued unharmed.
During the operation, authorities recovered unlicensed firearms and ammunition, a military-grade signal jammer, SAPS insignia and uniforms, as well as the blue lights and sirens that had been fitted to the suspects’ vehicle.
The gang has been linked to more than 30 hijackings on the N3 Highway, making this a significant breakthrough in efforts to combat organised crime on South Africa’s busiest transport route.
Law enforcement has urged motorists to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious vehicles attempting to stop them. Investigations are ongoing as authorities work to dismantle the broader network behind these hijackings.
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