Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
Cross-border car theft and smuggling syndicates have started resurfacing along South Africa and Zimbabwe’s border, mainly at illegal crossing points at 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 vehicle intended to be smuggled to Zimbabwe through illegal crossing at 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 information about the vehicle that was driven along Malales Drift heading to the banks of Limpopo River and operationalised on it.
“At about 06:00, 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 an 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 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.
