EASTERN CAPE – In an intelligence led operation, the Provincial Organised Crime Investigation (OCI) in Gqeberha supported by the Anti-Gang Unit recovered catalytic converters worth over R14 million on Friday, 09 July 2021 in Greenbushes.

It is alleged that on Wednesday, 07 July 2021 at about 11:30, a truck transporting these catalytic converters departed from their premises in Deal Party and when they were in Forrest Hill near the cemetery, they were pulled over by a Quantum bakkie. A passenger from the bakkie approached the driver and his passenger and pointed them with a firearm. The driver was forced to drive to Harrower Road where he was shoved to the back seat of the truck. The suspect then drove the truck to an unknown location where the converters were off loaded.

The driver and his passenger were dropped off in Booysens Park and the truck was found abandoned in bushes in Nooigedacht.  The total value of the converters is R15 million.

On Friday, 09 July 2021 at about 17:00 investigators from Provincial OCI followed up on information received about the possible storage of the stolen converters. With support from the AGU, a business premises in Bloem Laan in Waterkloof in Greenbushes was penetrated. A total of 10 pallets and 4 bags of catalytic converters were recovered. They were positively identified by the owner. It is suspected that all the stolen converters were recovered however a full audit is still to be conducted by the company.

Police are following up on further information relating to the suspects and arrests are imminent.

Source: South African Police Service