Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
Cross-border car theft and smuggling syndicates have started resurfacing along the South Africa and Zimbabwe border, mainly at illegal crossing points on the Limpopo River.
Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malasela Ledwaba said on Thursday, members of the Provincial Anti-Smuggling Team dealt the smuggling syndicate a serious blow when they intercepted a suspected stolen white Toyota
Cross SUV intended to be smuggled to Zimbabwe through an illegal crossing point along the Limpopo River.
This comes a few months after collaborative efforts by police in both countries saw the crime declining as they increased patrols and surveillance.
Col Ledwaba said the police received intelligence about the car that was driven along Malales Drift heading to the banks of the Limpopo River and acted on it.
“At about 6am, the vehicle fitting the description was spotted in the bushes while attempting to cross the Limpopo River to Zimbabwe,” he said.
“Police tried to stop it but sped off and got stuck in the sand. Two male suspects alighted from the vehicle and ran on foot into the border side of Zimbabwe to evade arrest.”
Col Ledwaba said preliminary investigations had revealed that the vehicle belongs to a private company in South Africa but it was not yet reported stolen and it was immediately impounded at the scene.
The theft of vehicles in South Africa, which are smuggled into Zimbabwe, is common, with most of the vehicles also being moved to Mozambique and Malawi.
However, some find their way on the local market where syndicates break them to sell accessories.
In addition, insurance fraudsters in South Africa are reported to be at the centre of smuggling vehicles out of that country before faking hijackings.
