Three individuals impersonating police officers have been arrested for allegedly hijacking a truck carrying cigarettes valued at R4 million.
According to the authorities, while four other suspects remain at large, three individuals, including two foreign nationals, have been arrested.
Video footage of the purported hijacking shows the alleged bogus cops, some of whom were wearing civilian clothing, commandeering a truck transporting cigarettes worth R4 million in Koppies, Free State, South Africa.
The owner of the truck, who requested anonymity out of fear, explained that the driver was en route to deliver the cargo in Cape Town when he was signaled to stop by a uniformed police officer.
The owner stated that her company had arranged for an escort to accompany the truck, which was supposed to follow the driver from Johannesburg.
However, the driver later claimed that he didn't see the escort, although he did catch a glimpse of them in the distance.
He couldn't ascertain when they separated from him, but they were meant to follow him out of Johannesburg, which evidently did not occur," she disclosed.
She recounted that when the driver reached Vereeniging, he was halted by an individual wearing a police uniform.
"The driver pulled over, and the supposed bogus cop informed him that he would issue a fine for worn-out tires.
The driver found this suspicious since he knew he had new tires, so he grew skeptical and activated the panic button," she explained.
In a video obtained by IOL, following the apparent inspection, the truck driver can be seen attempting to reenter his vehicle, but he is forcibly pulled out by one of the bogus cops in a police uniform. The imposter then guides him to a VW Polo.
The hijacking is completed when another suspect emerges from the Polo and quickly approaches the truck before driving away.
The police reported that the suspects kept the driver in their company for about 30 kilometers before forcing him into another vehicle, a white Toyota Corolla.
Using cable ties, the alleged bogus cops restrained the driver's hands and drove for an additional 20 kilometers before abandoning him beneath a bridge.
Sergeant Josephine Rani, spokesperson for the Free State provincial police, stated that the police received an alert regarding a white Toyota Corolla suspected to be involved in truck and courier vehicle hijackings.
"Our officers proceeded to Koppies, and when the occupants of the Corolla spotted the police, they attempted to flee. A chase ensued until the police managed to apprehend them," she stated.
Rani mentioned that the truck driver arrived at the police station accompanied by a security officer and positively identified the suspects as the individuals who had kidnapped and hijacked him.
Rani confirmed that three suspects, aged between 48 and 54, including two foreign nationals, are currently in police custody. Meanwhile, four others are still evading capture.
The truck, loaded with cigarettes, was recovered abandoned on the N1 highway.
The three apprehended suspects are expected to appear before the Koppies Magistrate's Court soon, facing charges of hijacking and kidnapping.
See Hijacking video Here
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