South African border police have seized a stash of counterfeit goods and an inflatable boat that smugglers had allegedly used to illegally cross the country’s border with Zimbabwe.
According to an SAPS statement, border police recovered the goods and boat near the Beitbridge border on Sunday. It is believed the boat was used for illegal crossings of the Limpopo River between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
“During the operation, members of the SAPS OR Tambo International Airport Border Police intercepted a smuggling attempt and seized one inflatable boat, 25 litres of diesel, counterfeit cigarettes and liquor that were being smuggled between South Africa and Zimbabwe,” police said.
“Despite some suspects managing to evade arrest by fleeing on foot and crossing the Limpopo River, homemade wooden bridges used for illegal crossings were successfully dismantled during the operation.”
In a separate incident, nine male Zimbabwean nationals were apprehended by the Vhembe District Proactive Police for contravening the Immigration Act during a separate Vala Umgodi operation.
These individuals were arrested less than 10km from Beitbridge.
The Department of Home Affairs Immigration Office was contacted to process the immediate deportation of the illegal immigrants. – SAnews.gov.za
