Vehicle check leads to arrests

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - A routine vehicle inspection by Bitou municipal law enforcement officials led to a substantial bust on Friday evening, 10 December, when a large stash of suspected counterfeit money and diving equipment was found in a car on the N2 in Plettenberg Bay.

Municipal spokesman Andile Namntu said that the municipality's crime prevention unit was doing a routine vehicle inspection on the national road near Weldon Khaya when they made the discovery.

"Among the many vehicles that were stopped and inspected was one that was driving to Worcester from Gqeberha," Namntu said.

"The officers doing the inspection found large volumes of banknotes and several diving cylinders filled with compressed air in the boot of the vehicle. The features on the banknotes looked very suspicious and [it] could be fake money."

Police were called in and the suspects were apprehended immediately. "It is alleged that the suspects are poachers," said Namntu.

He said the good working relationship between the Bitou municipal law enforcement department, police and other community-based crime bodies is doing well in the fight against crime.

Southern Cape police were contacted for more information, but did not comment on the incident before going to print.

Suspected counterfeit money seized during the bust.