NOORDWESTER – LICHTENBURG - A 40-year-old man is due to appear in the Lichtenburg Magistrate’s Court for possession of suspected stolen goods.
The suspect’s court appearance emanates from his arrest on Friday, 10 May, during a Crime Intelligence driven operation by the Lichtenburg Detectives, K9 and Visible Policing members. The suspect was arrested subsequent to receiving and operationalising of intelligence regarding theft and transportation of seeds.
As part of the operation, the team kept observation and eventually spotted the suspects’ vehicles on the R503 road heading to Lichtenburg. A car chase ensued after the suspects became aware of the police. One of the vehicles, a white Toyota Hilux club cab was cornered at Kieserville, Lichtenburg. The driver was arrested after 48 bags of Pannar cortevia sunflower seeds were found in the vehicle.
The second vehicle, a gold Toyota Hilux single cab drove to the plantation near Extension 4 in Blydeville. Although the driver managed to evade arrest, 72 bags of Pannar cortevia sunflower seeds were found in the vehicle. Preliminary investigations revealed that the seeds were allegedly stolen in and around Vierfontein and Kroonstad, in the Free State Province.
The police seized both vehicles, seeds and two cell phones. Investigations to identify the owners of the vehicles are underway, as it is apparent that the drivers were not the lawful owners.
The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena thanked all team members for their concerted efforts that led to the arrest.
