SANDF recovers two vehicles being smuggled in flooded Limpopo River into Zimbabwe

South African National Defence Force members deployed to the border with Zimbabwe have recovered a Toyota Land Cruiser worth around R1,5 million that was being smuggled out of that country through the flooded Limpopo River.

The vehicle was allegedly stolen in Boksburg in Gauteng province.

In a statement on Tuesday, the SANDF’s provincial spokesperson Captain Moses Semono said the vehicle was seen on 8 February while being driven across the river.

“Upon seeing our soldiers, the occupants swamped to the other side and our soldiers had to guard the vehicle until the 17th of February 2026 when the capability became available to pull the vehicle from the river,” said Capt Semono.

“Upon circulation by the members of the South African Police Services, it was discovered that the vehicle was reported stolen in Boksburg in Gauteng Province on the 06th of February 2026.

“A Toyota Fortuner valued at R539 900.00 was also confiscated at Gumbu on the border of South Africa/Zimbabwe. Both vehicles were handed over to the South African Police Services”.

The official said at the Support Base at Beitbridge Point of Entry, the soldiers had also confiscated an abandoned bag which was to be found containing a 9MM Retax-X-Pro Pistol with Serial: RXFYC-190401323 with 04 x rounds.

The Local Criminal Record Centre from the South African Police Services were called in and had to take over.

The smuggling of vehicles has become rampant around the border line and the Government is losing millions of dollars in import revenue annually.

In South Africa, the cars are driven mostly by the locals, who then hand them over to Zimbabwean drivers at the Limpopo River who then drive them to Nyamapanda Border Post and hand them to the Malawians or Mozambicans.

Indications are that most of these cars are stolen from rental cars in South Africa while thefts are orchestrated by insurance fraud syndicates in that country.

On insurance fraud, the vehicles are clandestinely sold and smuggled out of South Africa, after which their owners working with syndicates then report them stolen and claim insurance money.