SA police intercept smugglers with donkey-drawn cart

car siren

Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
South African police have intercepted a donkey pulled cart that was carrying an assortment of goods which were smuggled from that country to Zimbabwe via the Limpopo River.

Limpopo police spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, said the smugglers were spotted by a team led by the provincial commissioner lieutenant general Nneke Ledwaba, which was patrolling the border in a helicopter.

Brigadier Mojapelo said the  smugglers who spotted the helicopter while in the middle of the river, escaped to Zimbabwean territory on Wednesday morning.

He said patrols had been heightened on the boundary line after they recovered another stolen vehicle which was being smuggled into Zimbabwe near the same area.

“A donkey pulled scotch cart was spotted from the helicopter conveying goods towards Zimbabwe’s side of the Limpopo River, which is 2km from last week’s success.

“The suspects when noticing a police helicopter landing on the river bank, fled to Zimbabwe; leaving the donkeys and the cart on the dry portion of the river. This is the second achievement of an operation led by the provincial commissioner,” he said.

Brigadier Mojapelo said among the intercepted goods were groceries and  no arrests had been made so far.

The value of the goods is yet to be ascertained.

Brig Mojapelo said patrols were ongoing with a view of reducing the illegal movements of goods between the two countries’ borders.

Last week the police (SAPS) recovered a Toyota Hilux, that had been stolen from Durban after it was abandoned by the suspects when they spotted the police helicopter.

The car was partially submerged in the water and was being pulled out by five donkeys.

The police officer commanding Beitbridge district, Chief Superintendent Francis Phiri, said recently that they have since intensified patrols along the many illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River.

Some of the popular undesignated entry points include Dite, Musetshe, Panda-Mine, Mai Maria, Tshivhalamakula and River Ranch areas.

Chief Supt Phiri said the patrols had resulted in the interception of a vehicle carrying 23 minors who were being smuggled into the neighbouring country near the Panda Mine area.

 

You Might Also Like

Comments