Sixteen stolen luxury cars estimated to be worth R14 million will be shipped back to Britain within two weeks after being recovered in the Port of Ngqura, confirmed the port of entry police.
Sixteen stolen luxury cars estimated to be worth R14 million will be shipped back to Britain within two weeks after being recovered in the Port of Ngqura, confirmed the port of entry police.
Although they were unable to give any further details at this stage, Warrant Officer Etienne Prinsloo said that the stolen cars will be heading back to the United Kingdom soon.
The vehicles, which were destined for East Africa, have been loaded into containers this week by the Port Elizabeth vehicle identification section and port of entry police, and will be shipped back to their rightful owners, The Herald reported.
The recovery of the vehicles in Port Elizabeth followed a joint eight-month operation between the South African Hawks and the UK’s elite Association of police Officers’ Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (Avcis).
According to Avcis, detectives had discovered a secret location in the UK used by thieves to stockpile stolen cars that were awaiting the right time to be shipped to Africa. The stolen luxury vehicles were destined for Tanzania, where they are believed to be exchanged for drugs.
Organised Crime and Money Laundering Programme researcher at the Institute of Security Studies, Annette Hubschle, said that the exchange of a variety of goods, including vehicles, for drugs was a way for organised criminals to keep a few steps ahead of the authorities.
Hubschle also said that in South Africa this often involves the use of luxury real estate in wealthy areas such as Plettenberg Bay. Although not a common medium of exchange, Hubschle was not surprised that criminals were trading luxury cars. She said that these criminals are highly organised, innovative and good planners who are always looking for ways to hide their trade from the authorities.
