LIMPOPO – Two separate incidents of car chase that followed immediately after the suspects failed to stop at the check points and during Crime Prevention operations that were conducted last night, 23 May 2020 in Modimolle and this morning, 24 May 2020 in Sebayeng outside Mankweng, led to the arrest of five suspects and confiscation of illicit cigarettes and alcohol.
In Modimolle, the police were busy conducting crime prevention duties when they attempted to pull over a bakkie. The driver failed to stop and sped off in the direction of Bela Bela. A car chase then ensued and members contacted their colleagues in Bela Bela who quickly responded. The bakkie was spotted and cornered at one of the intersections .The vehicle was found loaded with one thousand (1000) cartoons of illicit cigarettes. Three suspects aged between 28 and 42, were then arrested.
In another incident, the collaboration between Traffic Officers and the SAPS members attached to Sebayeng in the Mankweng Cluster, led to the arrest of two suspects after a prolonged car chase that commenced at Botlokwa on the N1 north of Polokwane. After failing to stop when ordered to do so by traffic officers, the suspects apparently sped towards a gravel road that connects the N1 road and R81 from Polokwane. The officers pursuing the said vehicle, then called for a backup from the police at Sebayeng and this led to the suspects being cornered at the Solomondale intersection next to the filling station.
The vehicle was then searched and the illicit cigarettes and alcohol were found hidden inside. Two suspects were immediately apprehended. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects, the driver aged 30 and a woman aged 35 with her child were travelling from Zimbabwe and were heading to Gauteng province.
The five suspects are expected to appear in Mankweng and Modimolle magistrate courts soon facing charges of possession of illegal cigarettes and transporting alcohol in contravention of the Disaster Management Act.

Source: South African Police Service