SASSA cards hidden in chocolate box: Police clamp down on fraud syndicate
Western Cape police said it managed to break the back of a fraud syndicate on Monday night. More than 200 SASSA cards were found as well as bank cards from various financial institutions in Mitchells Plain and Bo Kaap in Cape Town.
Provincial police management has since lauded the efforts of members of the Special Operations Team attached to Operational Response Service for their vigilance and tenacity.
SASSA AND BANK CARDS SEIZED IN MITCHELLS PLAIN AND BO KAAP
The members were on crime combating patrols in Mitchells Plain when two suspicious vehicles, a Toyota Avanza and a Toyota LDV drew their attention.
“Both vehicles were stopped and searched, which led to the discovery of 49 SASSA cards hidden in a chocolate box in the Avanza,” said Colonel Andrè Traut
“It was evident that the occupants of the two vehicles were in cahoots and their interrogation led the members to an address in Elbow Gardens in Rugby where a further 191 SASSA cards were seized,” it added.
The four male suspects aged 18, 33, 45 and 56 were arrested and further interrogated, as it was clear that they were heading somewhere with the cards before being apprehended.
FURTHER INFORMATION LEADS THEM TO BO KAAP
Information extracted from the suspects resulted in a residence in the Bo Kaap being raided where 427 bank cards of various financial intuitions were confiscated.
Two suspects, a 56-year-old female and a 32-year-old male were arrested.
“While the suspects are awaiting their fate in a court of law for the possession of possible stolen property and for contravening the Electronic Transactions Act (No 25 of 2002), detectives are hard at work to probe the circumstances surrounding the arrests to ensure a successful prosecution and to determine if more arrests are possible,” said Traut.
“Many vulnerable people who are solely dependent on SASSA social grants are targeted by ruthless criminals with no regard for others, and this is one of the reasons that will make us dig deep to root out this syndicate and apprehend whoever is part of this criminal circle,” added Traut.
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