A truck driver and his accomplice were arrested by the Nelspruit Flying Squad on Friday, October 6, 2023 after they were found transporting suspected stolen railway tracks in Mpumalanga.
The incident unfolded in the early hours of Friday, when members of the Nelspruit Flying Squad received information about a suspicious truck loaded with railway tracks.
Acting swiftly on the tip-off, the police officers spotted the truck traveling along the N4 highway near Schagen and subsequently conducted a search.
During the search, law enforcement officers discovered railway tracks concealed under a blue tarpaulin within the truck’s cargo hold.
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The driver of the vehicle was asked to provide documentation to verify the legality of the load, to which he complied by displaying a photo on his cellphone as proof of the cargo’s legitimacy.
Realizing the potential seriousness of the situation, the Nelspruit-based Hawks’ Serious Organized Crime Investigation unit was summoned to the scene and took over the investigation.
A preliminary inquiry revealed that a similar modus operandi had been employed in another case.
Upon further scrutiny, it was determined that the documents presented by the driver were not legally sound.
Consequently, the South African Police Service (SAPS) members escorted the truck to the Nelspruit SAPS station for further investigation.
A case was subsequently opened on behalf of Transnet, alleging tampering and damage to essential infrastructure as well as possession of suspected stolen property.
Following their arrest, the suspects were taken into custody, and various exhibits were seized for additional investigative purposes.
The investigation into this matter is ongoing, with law enforcement authorities working diligently to establish the full extent of the alleged tampering with essential infrastructure in Mpumalanga.
Authorities have yet to confirm if there are any connections between this case and previous incidents of a similar nature.
