Another Zimbabwean man caught with explosives at the border

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South African border authorities have arrested a 48-year-old suspect for attempting to smuggle explosives worth at least R600K from Zimbabwe through the Beitbridge Port of Entry on Monday.

Details of the Explosives Interception

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, confirmed the arrest. According to the Hawks, authorities apprehended the suspect while driving a vehicle from Zimbabwe to South Africa.

“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.

Authorities called in bomb technicians from Musina. The Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit and the Local Criminal Record Centre joined them. They conducted a thorough examination of the vehicle.

Seized Explosives and Arrest

Law enforcement officers conducted a detailed search. They found 16 reels of detonating fuse explosives and 2,182 Superpower 90 blasting cartridge explosives concealed inside the trailer. Authorities immediately took the suspect into custody, and they expect him to appear in the Musina Magistrate’s Court soon.

Beitbridge: A Key Transit Point

The Beitbridge border post is a crucial gateway linking South Africa by road to several neighboring countries, including Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. Due to its strategic location, it has become a hotspot for cross-border smuggling activities.

This arrest comes just days after another major bust at the Beitbridge border. Last Thursday, the Hawks apprehended a 55-year-old Zimbabwean truck driver attempting to smuggle a consignment of drugs valued at an estimated R7 million into South Africa.

In January this year, a 53-year-old Zimbabwean suspect was arrested for allegedly possessing explosives at the Beitbridge Port of Entry and appeared in the Musina Magistrates’ Court on 20 January.