arrested cooking oil hijack

A police sergeant and three other suspects was arrested in connection with hijacking a truck and trailer with cooking oil worth R1.3 million. Image. SAPS

Cooking oil heist: Police sergeant arrested with five others

A police sergeant and three other suspects was arrested in connection with hijacking a truck and trailer with cooking oil worth R1.3 million.

arrested cooking oil hijack

A police sergeant and three other suspects was arrested in connection with hijacking a truck and trailer with cooking oil worth R1.3 million. Image. SAPS

A 43-year-old police sergeant is amongst six suspects aged between 24 and 50 arrested for hijacking a truck and trailer with cooking oil worth R1.3 million.

The truck and trailer was hijacked in Clewer, Emalahleni on Monday, 30 January 2023.

Cooking truck hijack
Some of the 2l Sunfoil cooking oil stolen in Kempton Park has been recovered. Image: Adobe Stock

TRUCK WITH COOKING OIL HIJACKED IN EMALAHLENI

According to information, Middleburg Flying Squad members received information about the truck hijacked in Elsburg (in the Gauteng Province) this month (January 2023).

Members followed the signal, leading them to a plot in Clewer, Emalahleni.

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“On the police arrival, members noticed a White Toyota Dakar next to two trailers. Upon seeing the police, six people started running in different directions. Police managed to apprehend them, and out of the six people, there was a Police Sergeant stationed at Vosman SAPS and two Zimbabwean nationals,” Police Spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said.

Police confiscated these items when they arrested a group for hijacking a truck and trailer with a load of cooking oil. Image: SAPS

POLICE MAN INVOLVED IN COOKING OIL HEIST

“Police further discovered that the trailers were still loaded with cooking oil estimated at R1, 3 million, and they were positively identified as the ones belonging to the reportedly hijacked truck. It was also established that the Toyota Dakar was reported stolen in Garsfontein (in Gauteng Province) in September 2017.”

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POLICE SERGEANT ARRESTED WITH FIVE OTHER SUSPECTS

The truck was also found abandoned a few kilometers from the plot. Police are currently continuing with the investigation to establish if the suspects are not involved in other similar criminal activities.

A police Sergeant is one of four suspects arrested for hijacking a truck and trailer with a load of cooking oil. Image: SAPS

Mohlala said police will engage the Department of Home Affairs to establish the status of the two foreign nationals in the country.

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The suspects are expected to appear at the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 01 February 2023, on charges of hijacking and possession of suspected stolen properties.

COOKING OIL IS WORTH R1.3 MILLION

Mpumalanga Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, strongly condemned the involvement of the SAPS members in criminal activities.

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He commended dedicated members and other stakeholders in “a job well done”.

The General added that internal investigation will also be conducted against the member who tarnished the organisation’s image. Drastic steps against the member may be taken should he be found guilty.

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