A 40-year-old foreign national was arrested in South Africa after allegedly attempting to drive a luxury BMW across the border into Zimbabwe on New Year’s Eve.
According to South African police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Thakeng, officers on duty at the Beitbridge Port of Entry spotted a man driving a black BMW G70, 7 Series, valued at over R2 million.
The man intended to cross into Zimbabwe with the vehicle. Said Thakeng (<a href="https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/limpopo/man-arrested-at-beitbridge-border-driving-stolen-luxury-bmw-into-zimbabwe-a8d1fd05-934f-49e5-b432-8d741935f47c">via IOL</a>):
<blockquote>
The man had a South African passport. Preliminary investigation reveals that the vehicle is wanted by one of the banks in South Africa. The driver alleged that the real owner will be flying to South Africa on January 1.
</blockquote>
Thakeng added that the man was arrested and charged with possession of a suspected stolen vehicle and providing the SAPS with fraudulent documents.
The vehicle was seized, and he will appear in the Musina Magistrate’s Court on January 3.
Meanwhile, Limpopo police commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, commended the officers for their vigilance in ensuring the suspect was brought to justice.
She attributed the successful arrest to the increased police presence during the festive season.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

A man tried to drive a very expensive BMW car from South Africa into Zimbabwe, but he got caught by the police. The car is worth over R2 million, and it is wanted by a bank in South Africa. The man had fake documents and claimed the real owner would come on January 1st. He was arrested and will go to court. The police were praised for catching him, thanks to their hard work during the holiday season. The man did something wrong, and now he will face the consequences for his actions.

Man Caught Driving "Stolen" R2 Million BMW Into Zimbabwe

Two South African nationals and two Zimbabweans were arraigned before the Harare Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, facing charges of motor vehicle theft.
The accused include John Leseja Mkonto (37) from Johannesburg, Sibusiso Mpofu (44) from Nkulumane, Bulawayo, Nwabi Maghawe (39) from Nketa 7, Bulawayo, Raymond Tshabalala (29) from Johannesburg, and Pholani Nhliziyo (38) from Ndiweni Village, Chief Ndiweni, Bulawayo.
They were arrested on September 2 at a police roadblock in Featherstone after allegedly smuggling the vehicle from South Africa.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the vehicle in question—a white Toyota Land Cruiser—was stolen in Pretoria, South Africa, on August 28, 2024. Said the NPA:
<blockquote>
On the 28th of August 2024, the accused persons stole a white Toyota Land Cruiser in Pretoria, South Africa.
In an attempt to conceal the true identity of the motor vehicle, the accused persons fraudulently manufactured a fake South African Registration book as well as a fake Temporary Import Permit in the name of the first accused person.
On the 2nd of September 2024, the accused persons smuggled the motor vehicle into Zimbabwe intending to go to Harare.
They were intercepted by police officers manning a road block at Featherstone. The first accused person who was the driver, upon request by the police officers, produced the fake documents.
Police Officers discovered that the purported motor vehicle documents did not tally with the particulars on the motor vehicle.
A fake registration number was affixed to the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle registration book was bearing a registration number belonging to a Toyota Hilux.
The accused persons were arrested and the motor vehicle was seized. Investiagtions revealed that the motor vehicle was reported stolen in South Africa on 28 August 2024.
The accused persons were remanded in custody to the 16th of September 2024.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Two South Africans and two Zimbabweans were caught smuggling a stolen car from South Africa into Zimbabwe. The car was stolen in Pretoria. The group made fake documents to hide the theft but got caught at a roadblock. The police noticed the documents were fake and the car had a different registration number. The thieves were arrested and the car was taken. They will be in jail until September 16. Don't steal cars, it's wrong!

2 South Africans And 2 Zimbabweans Arrested For Smuggling Stolen Vehicle

Police in South Africa intercepted a Toyota Prado sport utility vehicle while on its way to be smuggled into Zimbabwe, through the Beitbridge Border Post on Thursday morning.
The vehicle, worth over R1 million, was being driven by a foreign national and was being escorted by another vehicle, also being driven by a foreign national.
As reported by <a href="https://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/pics-toyota-prado-hijacked-in-pretoria-intercepted-in-limpopo-while-being-escorted-to-zimbabwe-43279ddb-b720-4e43-a8bb-a73b5032ad20">IOL</a>, Limpopo police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the vehicles were seized after a high-speed chase. Said Ledwaba:
<blockquote>
The vehicle was being escorted by another vehicle, using the N1 bypass next to Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane when police spotted them. They tried to stop the vehicles but the drivers sped off.
The two suspects were subsequently nabbed along the R71 bypass following a car chase.
The suspects also tried to run on foot but they were caught. The two suspects did not possess valid driver’s licences.
</blockquote>
Preliminary police investigations revealed that the vehicle was hijacked on Monday in Brooklyn, east of Pretoria.
The suspects aged 26 and 27 are facing charges of possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle, contravention of the Immigration Act, driving a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s licence and reckless and negligent driving.
On Monday, the two accused men will appear before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Toyota Prado Hijacked In SA Intercepted While Being Escorted To Zimbabwe

Police in Matabeleland South Province have arrested four men in Plumtree on allegations of smuggling three motor vehicles through an undesignated point of entry at Nswazi area, Madlambuzi in Bulilima.
The four are Peter Ndlovu (20), David Mazararire (22), Ndumiso Mudenda (36) and Norman Farai Nhunge (31) and were arrested at various points along Bulawayo- Plumtree road.
In a statement, Police said Ndlovu and his accomplices were intercepted at the 17-kilometre peg along the Bulawayo-Plumtree road highway. Police said:
<blockquote>
Police in Plumtree who were on anti-smuggling motorised patrol arrested David Mazararire (22), Ndumiso Mudenda (36), Norman Farai Nhunge (31) and Peter Ndlovu (20) for smuggling two Honda Fit vehicles and a Toyota Vitz vehicle through an undesignated point of entry at Nswazi area, Madlambuzi.
David Mazararire and Dumiso Mudenda were intercepted at the 43-kilometre peg along Bulawayo-Plumtree road while driving a Honda Fit vehicle with foreign number plates, while Norman Farai Nhunge was intercepted at the 17-kilometre peg along the same road, whilst driving a Toyota Vitz vehicle with foreign number plates. Peter Ndlovu was intercepted at the 17-kilometre peg along Bulawayo-Plumtree Road whilst driving a Honda Fit vehicle.
</blockquote>
The police said the suspects had no Temporary Import Permits and vehicle registration books for the vehicles.
Smuggling of vehicles across Zimbabwe’s southern and western borders is rampant with some of the vehicles having been hijacked in South Africa.
South African Police Service’s crime statistics reveal that between 1 April and 30 June 2023, 5 488 ars were hijacked.
Some of the hijacked cars find their way to Zimbabwe where they are sold to unsuspecting members of the public.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Four Men Arrested For Smuggling Honda Fit, Toyota Vitz Vehicles

Some members of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Beitbridge, Zimbabwe, are accused of stealing a document that implicates their colleagues in car smuggling. The document is a fraudulent vehicle clearance certificate allegedly issued by detectives Tererayi Silindeni and Munyaradzi Moyo. It is believed that Silindeni and Moyo collaborated with Detective Joseph Mosi to facilitate the clearance of a Toyota Wish car purchased in South Africa into Zimbabwe.
National police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident and stated that the police are investigating the case. He told NewsDay:
<blockquote>
We are investigating that case which may have occurred at Beitbridge. Criminal and disciplinary charges have been made to those three. We want to state there is no room for criminality in the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). All the facts in your media inquiry are correct and more arrests are possible.
</blockquote>
According to court papers, the fraudulent clearance certificate was issued to Julian Morris Ndou without properly inspecting the car, claiming it was a Toyota Hiace. Ndou used the fake documents to buy a Toyota Wish vehicle in South Africa and then drove it to Zimbabwe with Rodywin Gweshero and Tirawe Chiwara. They attempted to avoid paying duty by making it appear as if the vehicle had left the country previously.
During their journey, a police officer at a checkpoint became suspicious when he noticed a third number plate attached to the car with tape. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the vehicle had been smuggled, leading to the arrest of Gweshero and Chiwara. They implicated the detectives, resulting in their subsequent arrest.
However, when Silindeni, Moyo, and Mosi appeared in court, the vehicle clearance document that linked the first two detectives went missing. The three detectives were granted bail, while Gweshero and Chiwara paid bail as well.
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

Smuggling Latest News

Latest Jobs