Somalian national businessmen arrested/stolen shipping container recovered

PHOENIX – Two (2) Somalian national businessmen were arrested and a stolen shipping container containing construction equipment was recovered on the M4 in La Mercy yesterday afternoon (Wednesday).

Reaction Unit South Africa received a call of a theft in progress at a construction site on Cangleglow Place at approximately 17:52. Officers responding to the call received an update that a shipping container containing construction equipment was loaded onto a white Isuzu crane truck. The truck departed from the premises and was heading towards the M4. It was being followed by the owner of the stolen property.

RUSA Members re-routed and on arrival, found that the truck had been stopped by the owner of the construction company. The driver explained that he was hired by the two Somalian nationals to transport a container to a rural area on the north of Durban. He was allegedly paid R15,000 for his services.

The foreign nationals were passengers in the vehicle. They informed Reaction Officers that they intended on converting the shipping container into a tuck shop. They also allegedly own several tuck shops and general dealers. The two passengers were placed under arrest on arrival of Police and the driver of the truck was escorted to the Tongaat SAPS for further questioning.