“Zimbabwean Man Busted Smuggling R600,000 Worth of Explosives at Beitbridge Border”
"Explosives Worth R600,000 Seized at Beitbridge Border — Zimbabwean Man Arrested"
A relatively routine border crossing took a dramatic turn after Limpopo police arrested a 48-year-old Zimbabwean man for alleged unlawful possession of explosives valued at over R600,000 at the Beitbridge Port of Entry.
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, said the man was arrested on Tuesday after police stopped a trailer truck from Zimbabwe to South Africa at the Beitbridge border.
“They asked a driver to open a trailer so that the search can be conducted. The driver informed the police that he does not have keys for the trailers. Police forcibly opened the trailer and conducted a search, and they found bags containing items suspected to be explosives,” said provincial Hawks spokesperson, Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa.
After the discovery, Mmuroa said police called the Musina-based Bomb Technicians, Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation, and Local Criminal Record Central for further assistance
Mmuroa added that when the units arrived, they thoroughly searched the truck for the second time.
He is expected to make his first court appearance in the Musina Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the provincial head of Hawks in Limpopo, Major General Gopz Govender, commended the team for the arrest.
“This is a clear indication that the law enforcement is winning a fight against transnational criminals,” said Govender.
In another similar case in February, a 37-year-old South African man allegedly attempting to enter Eswatini via the Mananga Border Gate was arrested after he was found with 12 Magex Maxam blasting explosives.
The product is notorious for its application in mining, quarrying, and construction industries due to its high detonation velocity and explosive power.
Times of Swaziland reported that the arrest was executed by members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service during routine border checks, which prompted an immediate investigation into the matter.
![President Emmerson Mnangagwa Releases Prisoners [Image: @ZPCS_PR/X]](https://hararelive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/@ZPCS_PR-X-1-750x375-1-390x220.webp)
