LIMPOPO – A high-speed police pursuit in Lebowakgomo resulted in the recovery of illicit cigarettes valued at approximately R100 000, along with the suspect’s abandoned vehicle, during the early hours of Sunday morning.
According to a spokesperson for the South African Police Service (SAPS) Lebowakgomo, members of the Mankweng Crime Prevention Unit were conducting routine patrols along the D4040 road at Ga-Rampheri at approximately 02:50 on Sunday, 20 September 2026. During the patrol, officers observed a white Mercedes-Benz travelling at a high rate of speed under suspicious circumstances.
When police signaled for the driver to pull over, the individual failed to comply, initiating a high-speed pursuit. The chase continued until the vehicle reached a filling station in the Ga-Chuene area, which falls under the Lebowakgomo policing jurisdiction.
Upon arriving at the filling station, the driver abandoned the white Mercedes-Benz and fled on foot into the adjacent bushes. Despite immediate efforts by the Mankweng Crime Prevention Unit to track the individual on foot, the suspect successfully evaded arrest. Officers from SAPS Lebowakgomo were subsequently summoned to secure the scene and conduct a thorough search of the abandoned vehicle.
During the search, authorities discovered and seized a significant quantity of untaxed tobacco products. The recovered items include:
– 18 boxes of Remington Gold cigarettes
– 168 individual cigarettes
The total estimated street value of the seized illicit cigarettes is R100 000. The suspect’s vehicle was also impounded as part of the ongoing investigation.
The SAPS spokesperson confirmed that the suspect remains at large. Police investigations are actively continuing with the objective of tracing and apprehending the individual. Authorities have urged anyone with information regarding the incident or the suspect’s whereabouts to come forward.
