Army major implicated in Beitbridge car theft, smuggling ring

National Army Major has been linked to a cross-border car theft syndicate following the recovery of a stolen Toyota Fortuner in neighbouring Mozambique

A ZIMBABWE National Army Major has been linked to a cross-border car theft syndicate following the recovery of a stolen Toyota Fortuner in neighbouring Mozambique. 

The vehicle, allegedly smuggled from Beitbridge with the help of members of the security forces at the border town, exposes a network of criminals and corrupt officials operating across southern Africa.

A suspect, captured in a viral video, admitted involvement in the theft and named the major as a facilitator.  

“He (name supplied) called some officers at the post to let us through. We did not pay any money. I handed over the car and came back by motorbike,” he says in the video.

It is understood that the video was recorded in South Africa.

The vehicle was traced to Mozambique and is now being held as evidence at Beitbridge Police Station.  

The suspect, who recorded the video, has been apprehended and is assisting the police with investigations.

Beitbridge Police District Commander Chief Superintendent Mesuli Ncube confirmed the ongoing probe, but declined to comment further.

Four of the suspects are on the run. We have recovered the vehicle. We cannot say much because investigations are in their infancy,” Ncube told Southern Eye.

“I can only say he is helping us with investigations as it is. The vehicle was recovered in Mozambique.”

No comment could be obtained from army officials on the matter.

According to media reports, soldiers and police stationed along the Limpopo River are accused of aiding smugglers.

Villagers allege that officials sometimes hire donkeys to tow vehicles across the river.

South Africa, the primary source of stolen vehicles in the Southern African Development Community, loses 50% of hijacked cars to cross-border smuggling, reports indicate.

A 1997 multi-national operation recovered 1 576 stolen vehicles, 1 464 of which were from South Africa.  

Syndicates often trade stolen cars for diamonds, gold, or other minerals, with some cases tied to insurance fraud in South Africa.

Authorities face mounting pressure to dismantle syndicates exploiting weak enforcement at Beitbridge, a hotspot for smuggling.

 

Related Topics