Madagascar: Wild adventure in a honest company

The security guard, maintenance agent, warehouse keeper, and driver of a textile company stole nearly two hundred million ariary worth of raw materials. They cut off the electricity to disable the cameras before opening the storage warehouse and making off with their loot, loaded into a van driven by the driver.

A network of thieves was dismantled in a duty-free company located in Tanjombato. A precious cargo of sewing thread, valued at 175 million ariary, was stolen in the middle of the night by employees of the company itself. These individuals acted at various levels, according to their respective responsibilities. The stolen merchandise weighs over half a ton. To achieve their goals, the security guard, maintenance worker, warehouse keeper, and company driver collaborated.

According to explanations provided by the National Gendarmerie of Tana city, the security guard allegedly opened the gate to let the thieves in and give them free rein. Meanwhile, the maintenance worker had already cut off the electricity that powers the factory so that the surveillance cameras placed at several locations on the premises would be inoperative. Shielded from electronic surveillance, the warehouse keeper, who came with the keys, in turn, opened the storage warehouse for the thieves to enter and take out the cargo, which was immediately loaded into a vehicle.

Eleven incarcerations

According to the same source, the van used to transport the stolen cargo was driven by a driver from the company, who paid the price.

When the theft was discovered, the owners and manager of the company did not hesitate to contact law enforcement. An investigation was promptly conducted, and the obvious complicity of the employees involved in this case was quickly exposed. In total, eleven people, including the four employees of the company, were arrested and interrogated. Brought before the public prosecutor near the district court in Antananarivo the day before yesterday, all the accused individuals were placed in custody at the Central Jail of Antanimora. The stolen merchandise was, however, fully returned after the culprits were subjected to intense questioning. Having eventually cracked, they revealed where their loot had been delivered.

Andry Manase