Breakthrough in busting smugglers

[caption id="attachment_34883" align="alignright" width="250"] OUTWARD BOUND: Warrant Officer Quentin Ubsdell inspects a haul of cameras, laptops and cellphones. Picture: FREDLIN ADRIAAN[/caption]

A SUSPECTED international syndicate smuggling electronic goods out of the city to overseas destinations is believed to be fuelling burglaries and robberies.

Three suspects have been arrested in separate incidents at the airport in Port Elizabeth after trying to take the electronic goods – including laptops, tablets, cellphones and cameras – out in recent months.

Police spokesman Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said there were similarities between how the individuals operated.

"Once the luggage gets loaded onto the plane in Port Elizabeth, it automatically gets placed onto a connecting flight when they stop over to board another flight," she said.

"In all these cases, we have established they had connecting flights out of the country from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg." - Gareth Wilson