Cape Town – A 30-year-old man from Thohoyandou in Limpopo, South Africa remains in police custody in Zimbabwe after he was arrested for allegedly smuggling a firearm and ammunition.
According to The Herald newspaper, Tshililo Mathabi appeared at the Beitbridge Magistrate’s Court in Zimbabwe and remained in custody until September 2, as the court awaited a ballistic report on the pistol.
The report said that Mathabi entered Zimbabwe on Friday morning through the busy Beitbridge border post.
Alert police officers noticed a firearm holster, and after a body search, Mathabi was allegedly found with a Berretta pistol without documentation, the report said.
The State-owned publication reported that several cases of individuals smuggling firearms via the Limpopo River had been picked, and the law enforcement agencies had intensified the blitz.
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In May, South African police together with Zimbabwe Republic police conducted joint operations on both sides of the boarder and confiscated illicit goods to the value of R400 000. They also arrested 75 undocumented foreign nationals, reported IOL.
According to Limpopo police spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, the joint effort was aimed at dealing with cross-border crimes such as smuggling of stolen vehicles, stock theft, and drugs among other crimes, the report said.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
