In an intelligence led operation, the Provincial Organised Crime Investigation (OCI) in Gqeberha recovered catalytic converters worth over R24 million on Friday, 13 August 2021 in Sidwell.

It is alleged that on the mentioned date at about 14:15, the truck driver aged 43-year-old was driving towards Markman when while at the robots at Daku and Salamntu Streets, his truck was blocked off by two bakkies. Two unknown males alighted and got into the truck. The truck was driven to an unknown location and all its contents – 44 pallets of catalytic converters were offloaded. The truck was later driven to Prince Alfred Road in North End and left abandoned with the driver inside.

Immediately investigators from the Provincial OCI started their investigations and at about 18:20, 24 pallets of the stolen converters were recovered at a freight transport company in Commercial Road in Sidwell. A truck was found already loaded with some of the stolen goods. Three suspects aged 29, 31 and 33-year-old were arrested and detained on a charge of truck hijacking. Twenty pallets of the converters are still to be recovered. A jamming device with its charger was also seized.

Police are following up on further information relating to the outstanding converters.

Source: South African Police Service