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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Police have arrested 11 suspects and recovered goods worth more than $50,000 that were being smuggled into the country from neighbouring South Africa.Intensified border patrols along the Limpopo River led to the recovery of goods that include flea market wares, motor spares and cigarettes.

The officer commanding Beitbridge district chief superintendent Patrick Majuta said the suspects were arrested between Monday and Tuesday.

He said they had intercepted Tombs Motors and Maharaj cross border buses that were smuggling motor spares for which import duty was R5,000.

He added that they also recovered 269 boxes of cigarettes worth $26,900 that were being smuggled into South Africa, allegedly by a Tengwa Africa truck driver.

“We have intensified patrols along the boundary line with the view of reducing intrusive leakages and crime. We have 11 suspects in custody and they will soon appear in court charged with smuggling,” he said.

He said police intercepted a T35 truck loaded with blankets and an assortment of flea market wares at Panda mine near the Limpopo River.

The smuggled goods, he said, have been seized by Zimra.

Chief Supt Majuta said the patrols were ongoing and would soon become a permanent feature. He said a Zimra officer was arrested for conniving with a bus crew to smuggle the motor spares.

“We are still hunting for the driver of the Tengwa Africa trucks who disappeared soon after he was intercepted with contraband of 269 boxes of cigarettes,” he said.

He said most of the flea market wares and cigarettes were being smuggled across the country through the Limpopo River in makeshift canoes and boats.

Chief Supt Majuta said people should desist from using undesignated entry points as they risked prosecution.

“It is apparent that flea market wares are the most smuggled items as they are levied high excise duty by Zimra,” he said.

It is understood that the South African Revenue Services charges high rates on cigarettes imports which has resulted in a marked increase in cases of smuggling between Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Investigations by Chronicle reveal that most of the cigarettes are repackaged when they get to South Africa before being shipped to either Europe or Asia.

A box of cigarettes is sold for an average of $100 on the official market (Zimbabwe) and R2,500 in South Africa.

According to a report, last year Beitbridge border post accounted for 70 percent of the tobacco contraband in the neighbouring country.