Fake immigration stamp racket busted

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
The Department of Immigration in Beitbridge on Monday morning intercepted a man believed to be part of a racket that is using fake customs and immigration stamps to clear people between Zimbabwe and South Africa. The Herald is reliably informed that Zimbabweans living illegally in South Africa occasionally gave cross-border bus drivers or wheeler dealers their passports for endorsement at the border.

It would then appear as if they would have returned to Zimbabwe at some point and this “legalises” their stay in that country and in most cases they use fake immigration stamps.

The Assistant Regional Immigration officer in charge of Beitbridge Mr Nqobile Ncube said they intercepted Munyaradzi Shope and recovered four fake immigrations stamps of South Africa’s immigration and one of Zimbabwe Immigration).

He said Shope was nabbed while operating his mobile ‘immigration office’ in a Toyota Fun-Cargo within the border post. His two accomplices were still at large.

“The man was intercepted by our Regional Compliance and Enforcement team at around 2am. One of the officers observed that there was suspicious traffic of travellers at the vehicle and when he went to investigate, Shope and his two accomplices, who we are yet to identify drove off.

“The team then gave chase and managed to intercept Shope whom we have since handed over to the police for further management. Let me warn the criminal syndicates that they will not be given breathing space,” said Mr Ncube.
He said they had adequately deployed personnel at all key points to reduce incidents of irregular migration (border jumping) especially where child smuggling is concerned.

He said since the start of the festive season cases of child smuggling were on the decline.
“We have recorded less than 10 cases. We are glad our efforts are paying dividends. At the same time parents should desist from putting their children at risk from criminals and other vices.

“This trend, where we continue to have parents or guardians who expose their children to illegal migration is disturbing,”said Mr Ncube.