Drivers arrested for stealing eight truckloads of steel
Source: Saudi Gazette
by: Abdul Rahman Al-Ali
July 4, 2012
JEDDAH – Five foreign workers suspected of stealing steel rods from trucks and trying to sell them have been arrested in Jeddah.
Jeddah police received a complaint from a businessman who said five Filipino drivers who were assigned to transport heavy cargo of steel to the western region had disappeared with the trucks.
Eight trucks each carrying 150,000 tons of steel worth SR150,000 had disappeared without offloading their consignment s at the destination. The total value of the shipment was estimated at SR1.2 million.
Image Source: Sabq.org
The businessman said he tried to contact the drivers but their cell phones were switched off. When he checked with the warehouse to see whether the consignment had been delivered, he was told the trucks had not arrived. The businessman immediately contacted the police and undercover agents were dispatched to all markets to prevent attempts to dispose of the stolen steel.
Special agents received information about several individuals trying to sell large quantities of steel at very low prices.
The agents, disguised as customers, approached the men showing interest in buying the steel and were able to locate and arrest the drivers.
The drivers confessed that they stole the steel because they wanted to make quick money and leave the country by surrendering themselves to the authorities as absconders.
First Lt. Nawaf Al-Booq, spokesman for Jeddah police, said officers were able to nab the suspects in a short time because they were informed about the crime immediately after it took place.
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