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after intercepting two truckloads of different kinds of goods believed to be headed for resale on the informal market.
The value of the smuggled goods is yet to be established as Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officers in Bulawayo were still unpacking and assessing goods yesterday.
The development has raised fears that the country could be losing millions of dollars in potential revenue as tonnes of goods could be illegally finding their way into the country.
Deputy police spokesperson for Bulawayo Province Assistant Inspector Bekimpilo Ndlovu confirmed the incident and said the two trucks had a combined load of 90 bags full of different kinds of clothes and footwear.
“We have intercepted two trucks that were carrying suspected smuggled goods either from Botswana or South Africa,” he said.
“The trucks are refrigerated and are therefore supposed to be carrying perishables such as fruits or meat yet they are used to smuggle clothing and other such items,” said a source.
The source said this was deliberately done to evade detection by either the police or immigration officials.
The goods are reportedly packed in big bags each estimated to weigh more than 100kg and are smuggled through Mphoengs Border Post according to the source.
It is suspected that smaller vehicles and kombis would carry the goods across the border to nearby villages where they would be hidden in homesteads.
One of the trucks had old tyres, beds and household goods to cover up for the smuggled goods that were stashed inside.
The trucks would then carry the goods from the villages to their destination and the two trucks that were recently intercepted are suspected to have been heading for Harare via Masvingo when detectives from the Border Control Unit intercepted them.
It is believed that the trucks would drive via Bulawayo and join Gwanda Road enroute to Harare via Masvingo.
Asst Insp Ndlovu said the first truck was intercepted on Thursday last week at the 20km peg along the Bulawayo-Gwanda Road while the second was intercepted on Monday near Mbalabala.
“Collectively, the trucks were carrying 90 bags that contained various clothes and footwear. We are working closely with Zimra to establish the quantity and value of the suspected smuggled goods,” he said.
“We would like to thank members of the public for giving us a tip off and encourage them to continue doing that so that we curb smuggling.”
When Chronicle news crew visited the Zimra warehouse at the National Railways of Zimbabwe’s Raylton yesterday morning, Zimra officers were busy unpacking the goods and repacking them in other bags after sorting and counting them.
Each bag had a code number and is suspected to reflect its destination.
The officers said they were yet to inform their head office about the incident.
Zimra Customs and Excise Division regional manager, Mrs Lonto Ndlovu could not comment on the issue and referred questions to the corporate affairs department in Harare.
Questions sent via email had not been responded to by the time of going to press.
Of late there has been an increase in the number of smuggling cases occurring along the border with Botswana and South Africa.
Recently, police in Beitbridge bust a smuggling syndicate when they raided a local businessman’s homestead in Tshapfutshe village and recovered more than 1 000 boxes of an assortment of export quality cigarettes worth R3,1 million.
Villagers were also involved in the smuggling as the boxes were hidden inside five huts, which were being used as warehouses.
Online Reporter