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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
South African border authorities have intercepted a Zimbabwean cross border bus with 200 explosives destined for Johannesburg. The bus was travelling from Gweru.
Limpopo police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ronel Otto said the Ganyani Bus was intercepted by customs and police officers, who were on patrol at Beitbridge Border Post on Tuesday night.
She said they had since arrested the bus conductor Courage Ganyani (21) in connection with the matter.
“The suspect appeared before a Musina magistrate today (yesterday) charged with illegal possession of explosives. He was denied bail and remanded in custody to July 2 for continuation of the matter.
“Indications are that a customs officer who was conducting searches on the bus using a detector dog discovered 200 safety cap fuses which were hidden in a bag,” she said.
Lt Col Otto said the customs officer then called in the police who upon further investigations discovered that the bag belonged to Ganyani, who was subsequently arrested.
She said the explosives were wrapped in clothes and placed at the bottom of the bag.
“The cords which contain explosives have since been handed over to the police explosives unit. We suspect these explosives are being used for illegal mining activities and Automated Teller Machines (ATM) bombings,” said Lt Col Otto.
She added that police had intensified patrols and searches on travellers in light of an increase in cases of smuggling.
Of late there has been a marked increase in cases of drugs and explosives smuggling between Zimbabwe and South Africa’s boundary line.
A total of 16 people were arrested while smuggling explosives between June and July alone.
Two women, all from Bulawayo aged 41 and 23 were arrested in June while carrying between 80 and 100 detonators respectively.
The elder woman was fined R20 000, while the other was imprisoned for eight years at the same court (Musina).
The other group of 14 men was intercepted in July (2014) at an illegal entry point along the Limpopo River carrying a contraband of detonators worth R350 000 and were fined R30 000 each.
Online Reporter