Zimbabwean syndicate arrested for impersonating taxi association members and extorting money from motorists. Photo: JMPD/ Facebook.
Bogus Zimbabwean taxi association patrollers finally arrested
Bogus Zimbabwean taxi association patrollers were finally arrested after extorting monies from unsuspecting motorists in Randburg
Zimbabwean syndicate arrested for impersonating taxi association members and extorting money from motorists. Photo: JMPD/ Facebook.
Randburg, north of Johannesburg will be safer following the arrests of bogus Zimbabwean taxi association patrollers this week.
FIVE SUSPECTS NABBED FOR EXTORTION AND KIDNAPPING
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) spokesperson Xolani Fihla confirmed that their Undercover Reaction Unit arrested five male suspects (Zimbabwean) in Randburg for extortion and kidnapping.
“On Wednesday, 26 October 2022, officers received information of suspects pretending to be taxi association patrollers affiliated with PRS taxi association in Pretoria, who were extorting money from unsuspecting motorists giving lifts to hitchhikers in the Randburg area,” he said.
“Further information was received that the suspects were driving around in a silver-grey Volvo S40.”
Fihla
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CASE OPENED FOLLOWING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS
He said on 24 October, a case docket was opened at Randburg SAPS as the Zimbabwean men had extorted money from a truck owner at the Randburg Driving License Testing Centre.
“Whilst on patrol along Malibongwe Drive and the N1 searching for the suspects, officers identified the vehicle matching the description used in the commission of the crime. They tactically approached and stopped the vehicle. While searching they discovered that one of the occupants was a victim of extortion who the suspects had forced to withdraw R4000,” Fihla detailed.
ZIMBABWEAN MEN BEHIND TAXI ASSOCIATION CRIMES
He added that following up on further information officers apprehended more suspects linked to the syndicate that had been terrorizing the community of Randburg.
“They were driving a white Isuzu bakkie. The PRS Taxi Association office was notified of the suspects extorting people using their association name and they confirmed that they had received numerous complaints about such conduct.
All five suspects, Zimbabwean nationals were detained at Randburg SAPS, and both vehicles used by the suspects were seized and booked in at the SAPS Aeroton pound,” he concluded.
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