Two men were taken into custody on Wednesday in Cape Town's city centre in connection with an alleged online dating scam in which victims were reportedly drugged and robbed.
According to the metropolitan police, the suspects, aged between 20 and 25 years old, are linked to various cases and an alleged crime syndicate.
Audi A3 leads officers to suspects
Community safety officers received information around midday about an Audi A3 linked to a theft case reported at the Cape Town Central police station. They located the vehicle in the city centre and kept it under observation.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) then informed the officers that the suspects were wanted in connection with various cases and were allegedly involved in an online dating fraud ring.
How the online dating scam in Cape Town allegedly operated
According to police, the suspects would initiate relationships with victims and then arrange meetings. During these meetings, the victims were allegedly drugged and robbed of valuable personal possessions.
A couple of hours after the Audi was located, two men got into the vehicle and drove off. Officers intercepted them shortly afterwards and searched the vehicle with the driver's consent.
Bank and identity cards, cellphones and three card payment machines were found in the vehicle. The men were detained at the Cape Town Central police station.
Cash, jewellery and drugs found at residence
The SAPS then called on the officers' assistance to search the suspects' residence. An undisclosed amount of cash, jewellery, drugs and another card payment machine were found there.
The men face charges including conspiracy to commit fraud, offences under the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, possession of drugs and possession of false number plates.
Read more crime news on Nuusflits.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
