BEITBRIDGE – The country’s national security task force deployed to the border with South Africa has intercepted another vehicle worth thousands of United States dollars that had been smuggled via the Limpopo River.
The Ford Ranger was intercepted near the Panda Mine 2 area, about 60km east of Beitbridge Border Post.
Although the national police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi could not be reached for comment, security sources at the border said investigations into the matter were underway.
“The vehicle was intercepted during a stop and search operation by our Ferret team at around 9 pm on Saturday evening,” said the security source.
“The driver was ordered to stop and complied but disappeared into the bushes.
The Toyota Land Cruiser was burnt by smugglers on the Limpopo River by cornered smugglers.
The team then immobilised the vehicle by removing its wheels while they searched the area for more suspects.”
The officials said when the Ferret team returned the vehicle’s registration plates had already been removed and they towed it to Beitbridge main police station.
“We are also investigating another case involving a Toyota Land Cruiser single cab that was being smuggled and was burnt by the suspects on the riverbed,” added the source.
The case comes a few days after South Africa’s elite cops, the Hawks arrested nine soldiers in their country for abetting the smuggling of stolen vehicles into Zimbabwe.
Hawks spokesperson for Limpopo Province, Captain Matimba Maluleke said the accused persons were arrested during a sting operation after being put on surveillance since 2017.
The operation was dubbed ‘Night Virgil’ and the suspects who were pocketing R15 000 collectively from the smugglers per vehicle will be tried on October 25 at the Musina Magistrates Court, in South Africa. – Herald
