Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
A 44-YEAR-OLD man’s high-stakes gamble to smuggle a stolen car into Zimbabwe hit a dead end when South African cops busted him at the Beitbridge border on Monday.
The would-be smuggler, driving a grey Hyundai H1, was intercepted at the Departure Vehicle Checkpoint moments before crossing into Zimbabwe. He tried unsuccessfully to fool the system with fake papers.
“The vehicle was reported stolen in Pretoria last August. The suspect presented fraudulent documents, leading to a charge of fraud in addition to possession of a suspected stolen vehicle,” said Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malasela Ledwaba.
The suspect was arrested on the spot, and the stolen ride impounded.
Car theft syndicates have been on a rampage in South Africa, with Zimbabwe often used as a gateway to smuggle stolen vehicles into neighbouring countries. Authorities from both sides of the border are tightening the noose on cross-border crime.
