SAPS
Eastern Cape police say they have arrested a suspect they believe is the “mastermind” behind the theft of vehicles and the hijacking of trucks.
Police spokesperson, Captain Khaya Tonjeni, said the 31-year-old was arrested on Wednesday in the area of Mission Locality near Qumbu.
He said the arrest was made by members of the SAPS Tactical Response Team deployed at Qumbu assisted by Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) and Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit,and Qumbu Detectives.
Tonjeni said the team was executing search warrants for unlicensed firearms.
He said police recovered a 9mm pistol and several rounds of ammunition, including cartridges for an R5 rifle.
Police also recovered engines and engine parts for vehicles that had been reported stolen.
Tonjeni said police also seized aluminium sheets, suspected to have been stolen during a truck robbery last December where an attempted murder case was also registered.
He said the suspect is also linked to a murder and hijacking on the N2 near Tsolo in April, 2021.
The man is due to appear in the Qumbu magistrate’s court soon.
