In Bloemfontein, South Africa, the Bloemfontein Flying Squad successfully apprehended two individuals who were found in possession of a counterfeit Kruger Rand coin and a substantial amount of cash. The incident occurred on the 8th of June 2023, around 11:40 am, when members of the Flying Squad received information regarding two suspicious individuals attempting to sell Kruger Rand coins at the Towers Shopping Centre, situated in the residential area of Langenhoven Park, Bloemfontein.
Acting swiftly upon receiving the tip-off, the law enforcement officials promptly arrived at the scene. Their attention was drawn to a man who was sitting inside a vehicle registered under the GP license plate number. The officers immediately approached the individual, subjecting him to an interrogation and subsequently conducting a thorough search of the vehicle. During the search, they discovered a total of five Kruger Rand coins. However, upon closer inspection, it became evident that one of the coins was fraudulent, displaying distinct visual disparities from the genuine ones.
#sapsFS Members from the Bloemfontein Flying Squad arrested two men with a fake Kruger Rand coin, cash and forged ID documents in Bloemfontein on 8 June 2023. The suspects face charges of fraud, forgery, uttering and contravention of the Identification Act. ML… pic.twitter.com/yv6rChheVi
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) June 9, 2023
Meanwhile, the alleged accomplice of the man in the vehicle was located within one of the shops within the shopping center premises. The authorities swiftly apprehended him as he was in the midst of attempting to sell one of the forged Kruger Rand coins. Alongside the counterfeit currency, the officers also uncovered an approximate sum of R70,000-00 in cash, as well as a collection of falsified identification documents. Furthermore, the vehicle utilized during the commission of the crime was seized by the authorities as evidence.
The two men taken into custody, aged 38 and 45 respectively, now face a multitude of charges including fraud, forgery, uttering, and violations of the Identification Act. Their arrests serve as a testament to the vigilant efforts of the Bloemfontein Flying Squad in combatting fraudulent activities within the city.
Such proactive measures are vital in upholding the integrity of currency transactions and ensuring the safety and security of the public.