A search operation executed at the smallholding belonging to a 35-year-old alleged kingpin alleged involvement in the syndicate syphoning fuel from Transnet pipeline resulted in a seizure of five luxury vehicles.

The luxury vehicles seized includes a black SUV Jeep SRT 8, black Mercedes Benz Viano minibus, white Toyota Land Cruiser Ldv, black Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV and a Silver Jeep V8 SUV. The value of these vehicle has not yet been established. Other items that were seized includes five cell phones, documents, illegal firearm and ammunition and an undisclosed cash amount.

The search operation followed his arrest in Pretoria on Wednesday morning and continued until the break of dawn on Thursday, processing the exhibits or assets suspected to be the proceeds of crime. The suspect will subsequently appear in Vrede Magistrates court on Friday, 21 October owing to the volume of work to make the docket court ready.

Furthermore, a second tanker which was allegedly seen in his premised over the weekend when his alleged accomplices were arrested has now been linked to a new incident of damage to Transnet pipeline in Silverton this morning. The suspects fled the scene before arrest and the tanker was seized for further investigation.

The case against five illegal immigrants arrested at his homestead was referred to the local detectives for a further probe.  The arrest of the trio brings to a total of 49 suspects arrest in the space of three months since the involvement of Bidvest Protea Coin Security. However there has been two hundred and ten (210) suspects arrested since Since December 2019 through the collaborative work between the police and Transnet officials. We have also secured the conviction of ten (10) suspects through the collaboration of the police with Transnet.

The alleged kingpin will be facing the main charge of damage to essential infrastructure and theft of fuel when he appears in Vrede court on Friday. The Priority Crime Specialised Investigation (PCSI) of the Hawks in Free State has now been activated to begin their probe into the assets belonging to the alleged kingpin suspected to be the proceeds of crime.

Enquiries:
Lieutenant Colonel Philani Nkwalase
071 481 3468