On Saturday, February 5, 2022, the Welkom Public Order Police Unit detained three individuals who were caught red-handed drawing diesel.
As the driver went to register goods carried on his truck at customs, the three were draining diesel from a vehicle parked on the side of the road.
Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring, a police spokeswoman, stated that on February 4, 2022, at approximately 19:45, officers were executing Crime Combating Duties at Ficksburg and Meqheleng.
“While patrolling near Ficksburg Port of Entry, they noticed a truck on the side of the road and next to it was a blue Toyota taxi with Lesotho registration numbers.
“They decided to stop their vehicle and investigate.
Three suspects were found busy draining diesel from the truck into 25 litres containers using a hose pipe.
Upon further investigation they noticed that two 25 litre containers were already loaded in the taxi.”
SAPS
Mophiring said the three suspects were immediately placed under arrest.
Just as the police were interviewing the suspects, the driver of the truck arrived and was surprised to see policemen near his truck.
He told them he had left his truck and went on foot to declare the goods that were in the truck at the Port of Entry.
The tree suspects aged between 30 and 40 are expected to appear before the Ficksburg Magistrate court on Monday, 7 February 2022 facing charges of possession of suspected stolen property and theft of diesel.
A number of similar cases have been widely reported in South Africa and such acts are slowly starting to become a norm.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) previously said theft of petrol and diesel is starting to become a serious national threat.