Rogue cops escort crooks across border
Roadblock intercepts R2-m worth of illicit clothing.
CRIMINALS delivering a truckload of illicit clothing from Mozambique via eManguzi to Durban on Thursday night were being escorted by a police-marked bakkie.
They were intercepted on the N2 north of Mtubatuba at about 9.30pm by members of Empangeni Crime Intelligence and KwaMsane Tactical Response Team, who had received information on the two vehicles.
According to the informants, the police vehicle was escorting the truck belonging to a Pinetown company, to make sure that no one stops it on their way.
The truck was detained at a SAPS stop-and-search roadblock near the Zamimpilo curio centre, where the bakkie managed to escape.
However, the registration of the bakkie and identity of the occupants is known.
The large Isuzu truck was searched and 146 bags of illicit imported clothing worth R2-million were found, while 11 occupants aged between 30 and 55 years, including the truck driver, were detained.
The truck was impounded by SARS.
The suspects were transported to the Mtubatuba Police Station and will appear in the Mtubatuba Magistrate’s Court today (Monday).
‘The investigation continues and the SAPS members involved will be traced and face departmental charges,’ said a senior SAPS member.
‘Early this year another member was found in possession of illicit cigarettes which were being transported from eManguzi to Durban in a state-marked vehicle.
‘This tendency of SAPS members being involved in this type of crime is escalating.’
