Shocking dashcam footage has captured the moment four masked gunmen ambushed a Turkish truck on a busy Italian motorway, beat the driver and stole the vehicle, only to abandon it after failing to get at a £5 million cargo of cocoa.
The terrifying attack unfolded at around 6 pm on 16 September on the A14 near Bari, as the truck headed back towards Turkey after loading in Italy. The vehicle belonged to an Antalya-based logistics firm and was carrying cocoa beans valued at about €6 million.
Dashcam video from inside the cab shows the driver travelling along the highway when a car pulls in front. Shots are fired from the pursuing vehicle. Four men wearing balaclavas then surround the lorry. One of them later appears in the driver’s seat, face covered, as the stolen truck is driven away.
The raiders smashed a window, dragged the driver, identified only as S.S, from the cab and assaulted him. They also used a device that blocked phone and radio signals in the area, cutting him off from help. The driver later managed to contact his wife after the ordeal.
Italian police launched a hunt and quickly located the abandoned lorry. Investigators say the gang could not open the trailer and left the cocoa cargo untouched. The four suspects remain at large.
The footage, now circulating widely, shows the entire sequence: the blocking car on the carriageway, the masked men approaching, and one of them taking control of the cab. The recovered truck is still in Italy while authorities complete formalities.
The incident has highlighted the risks faced by international hauliers on southern Italian motorways, where organised gangs have long targeted high-value freight. Police in Puglia are continuing their investigation.
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