Chronicle Editor
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
SECURITY agents deployed at the country’s border with South Africa have intercepted suspected stolen copper cables worth nearly US$100 000 that were being smuggled into the neighbouring country via the Beitbridge Border Post.
So far, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) and the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) have positively identified part of the recovered cables as theirs.
The police are yet to make any arrests after the truck driver fled last Thursday.
It is reported that the contraband was intercepted by a team of security agents implementing the operation “No to Cross border Crimes”.
Police Chief Superintendent Bekezela Ndlovu said intensive investigations into the matter are underway.
“We are yet to make any arrests and our intelligence officers are firm on the ground following up on the case,” she said.
“Initial indications are that our officers reacted to a tip-off and swooped on a South African-bound commercial truck at the border.
“Unfortunately, the truck driver escaped before they could get to him and we have leads and are looking for him”.
Chief Supt Ndlovu said following a physical examination it was discovered that the truck was laden with nearly five tonnes of copper cables with a street value of nearly $100 000.
She said the copper cables, copper scrap, used cans consignment, the horse and trailer had been seized and handed over to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra).
The senior cop said they were not relenting on their quest to restore sanity along the borderline.
“We have deployed enough manpower and discovered the methods some criminals are using to smuggle goods in and out of the country. So, we are not going to give them any breathing space,” said Chief Supt Ndlovu.
She said they had also busted several warehouses around Beitbridge town which were being used to store smuggled goods from South Africa.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter