Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
South African police on Monday arrested a 44-year-old man who attempted to smuggle a stolen vehicle into Zimbabwe using fake registration documents.
The suspect was arrested at a security checkpoint as he was about to leave for Zimbabwe via the Beitbridge Port of Entry.
Limpopo police spokesperson, Colonel Malasela Ledwaba, said the man had been charged with possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle and fraud.
“The suspect was apprehended at the Departure Vehicle Checkpoint, while he was allegedly attempting to smuggle the vehicle, a grey Hyundai H1, out of the country to Zimbabwe through the Beitbridge Port of Entry,” he said.
“The vehicle was reported stolen in Pretoria, in Gauteng Province, in August last year.
“During the incident, the suspect produced fraudulent documents of the vehicle, and an additional charge of fraud was added.”
Col Ledwaba said the man was immediately taken into custody, while the vehicle has been seized as part of the ongoing investigation.
Of late, there has been an increase in vehicle thefts in South Africa, with many of the stolen vehicles being transported in transit to other countries via Zimbabwe.
As a result, authorities from the two countries have been collaborating to fight cross-border crime.
