Police operations nab 8 suspects in Limpopo, Gauteng

A suspected illicit cigarette smuggler has been killed and three others arrested following a high-speed chase with the police outside Polokwane in Limpopo.

Provincial police spokesperson Hlulani Mashaba says the suspected members of a smuggling ring were intercepted on the R519 road between Polokwane and Zebediela last night following a tip-off.

The deceased suspect died after the car they were traveling in collided with a truck during the chase.

Mashaba says five other suspects in another car managed to escape.

“We have intercepted a smuggling syndicate here at the R519 road as you are departing from Polokwane towards the site of Zebediela policing area. In the process a high-speed chase ensued resulting in one of the masterminds behind the illicit smuggling of cigarettes getting involved in a very, very horrendous accident- colliding with a truck. There were other cars we were following up on and we managed to arrest three suspects in the process. Those suspects are illegal foreigners.”

Meanwhile, in Johannesburg, five suspects have been arrested following a botched kidnapping attempt after police received a tip off.

A South African woman who is working with the syndicate was planning to kidnap her employer and force them to withdraw large sums of money from their business bank account.

Two South Africans, two Ugandans and one Malawian national were arrested following the take down operation.

National police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe says the five suspects were arrested for conspiracy to kidnap and extortion.

“Working closely with the target, a mock kidnapping was planned. The SAPS can confirm that following this successful mock kidnapping, five suspects were arrested while trying to access the money that had been transferred following the kidnapping of this female employer. The suspects were arrested at their meeting place in Melrose Arch.”

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