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Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau 

BORDER authorities have foiled another smuggling bid and intercepted a Harare-bound truck transporting 5 000 roofing sheets (IBR) valued at R414 000 .

It is alleged that the contraband, which was being transported in a South Africa registered truck, was being cleared as fuel.

Although police could not immediately confirm the incident yesterday, an official within the Ferret team made up of security agencies and the police said one Mudyiwa Nihape of Sunningdale 2 suburb, Harare had been arrested in connection with the matter.

The source said Mudyiwa was arrested when he was about to leave the border for Harare on Wednesday night.

“Mudyiwa is currently in police custody assisting with investigations. Indications are that the bill of entry number they used is for an importation of fuel.

“Investigators are still pursuing the customs clearing company which was pushing the contraband and their identity cannot be disclosed at this stage,” said the official.

According to the official, documentation used by the suspected smugglers had no permit required for the importation of the roofing sheets. 

“This prompted the team to verify the authenticity of the documents with the queries department of Zimra which then established that the documents were fake and did not exist in the system. 

“The truck was taken for physical examination to establish the actual value and potential prejudice to the State. It was carrying 5 000 IBR sheets with an invoice value of R414 000,” said the official.

Authorities at Beitbridge Border Post recently heightened their anti-smuggling drive following the interception of three South Africa registered tankers smuggling a combined 116 000 litres of petrol from the neighbouring country last month.

It is also understood that the customs clearing agent known only as Ngoni has gone into hiding following the bust on April 22.