King William’s Town – Police arrested five suspects minutes after the robbery of a truck delivering cigarettes in the Eastern Cape on Thursday, police reported.
Provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Majola Nkohli said five suspects, aged between 25 and 42, were arrested on the scene and cigarette boxes valued at R180 000 recovered. Police also recovered two vehicles used in the robbery as well as British American Tobacco (BAT) delivery truck which was later found in Rocklands Road , Uitenhage.
“Port Elizabeth police radio control received a complaint of robbery in progress of a BAT delivery truck on the N2 near Thornhill, and police chopper and members from Port Elizabeth K-9 Unit were dispatched to the scene,” Nkohli said.
“It is alleged that suspects with firearms who were at the back of a white Toyota bakkie pointed at a driver of a BAT delivery truck and forced him to stop. Several cigarettes boxes were taken from the BAT truck and loaded into a Toyota bakkie and a white Ford Ikon and afterwards, five suspects fled in the two vehicles.
“Through the help of helicopter surveillance, the two vehicles were spotted in Rocklands Road, near Uitenhage and K-9 Unit, responded immediately. Other members from Kwazakhele Task Team and Kabega Park assisted and the two vehicles were cornered in Rocklands Road.
“Five suspects were arrested, and cigarettes with estimated value of R180 000 were seized. The Toyota bakkie belonged to one of the suspects, and a Ford Ikon was a hired vehicle (from Tempest Car Hire). Most cigarette boxes were thrown out of the moving vehicles by suspects into a nearby bush and it is believed that the firearms used were also thrown away. No shots were fired and no person was injured during the incident.”
Police dogs and a forensic team were busy at the scene investigating as it was believed that two more suspects were still at large.
Police were investigating a case of robbery and possession of stolen property, and additional charges were possible police said. The suspects are due to appear at Uitenhage Magistrate Court on Monday.
Human’s Dorp Cluster Commander, Brigadier Neil Jantjies said: “If our members work as a team, we will get more successes and win the fight against crime in our Cluster.”
ANA