Police recovered about 1 700 bales of jeans from storage units in Kensington, Johannesburg. Image credit SAPS
Police in Johannesburg have arrested a 46 year old Malawian national after a Kensington jeans bust uncovered goods worth an estimated R8 million. Officers found about 1 700 bales of denim jeans and a hijacked Ford Ranger bakkie during the operation on Sunday.
The arrest followed an intelligence driven operation by Johannesburg Central police. According to reports, officers received a tip linking a man to goods stolen during a recent armed robbery in the Johannesburg CBD.
Acting on the information, police went to a house in Kensington, a suburb east of the city centre. There, they found a white Ford Ranger and five bales of jeans. Police believe criminals hijacked the bakkie and then used it as a getaway vehicle in the CBD robbery.
What police found in the Kensington jeans bust
The search did not end at the house. Officers then obtained permission to open two units at a nearby self storage facility. Inside, they found jeans stacked from floor to ceiling.
In total, police counted about 1 700 bales of denim. Independent valuations put the combined value of the jeans and the bakkie at around R8 million.
Police arrested the suspect at the scene. He faces several charges, including possession of suspected stolen property. Police have not named him, and he is expected to appear in court soon.
Meanwhile, detectives are still investigating. They are trying to establish where the jeans came from and how the goods moved after the robbery. In addition, they are looking into whether local shops or traders helped sell the stolen stock.
For readers who are not familiar with the area, the Johannesburg CBD is one of the busiest trading hubs in the country. Wholesalers and clothing traders there handle large volumes of stock every day. As a result, warehouses and delivery vehicles often become targets for armed gangs.
Stolen goods do not simply disappear after a robbery. Instead, criminals often hide them in rented storage units or homes before selling them on. Police say tracing these hiding places is key to breaking up the networks behind such crimes.
Police have urged anyone with information about the robbery to contact their nearest police station or use the MySAPS app.
Commentary across social media platforms has focused on the sheer size of the haul. Many users have praised the police and asked how so much stock could be stored without anyone noticing.
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