LIMPOPO – The SAPS’ Border Police have confiscated illegal equipment believed to be used for smuggling people and counterfeit goods across the Limpopo River between South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The discovery was made during a disruptive operation led by the team titled Vala Umgodi which saw the arrest of 23 foreign nationals.
Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said a homemade wooden step-ladder and five donkey carts on the western side of Beitbridge in the Marooi area of the Vhembe District were discovered between last Saturday and Sunday (April 20 and 21).
In addition, Border Police also discovered abandoned cargo including dagga weighing 9.5kg worth thousands of rands along the Beitbridge Border Post while patrolling the borderline.
“The 23 arrested suspects face charges of contravening the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 and will be processed by immigration officers from the Department of Home Affairs for direct deportation back to their countries of origin,” his statement read.
Meanwhile, multidisciplinary forces comprising of the SAPS Tactical Response Team, Public Order Police, the National Intervention Unit and the South African National Defence Force arrested six male and one female foreign nationals for illegal mining and contravening the Immigration Act in Atok last Sunday.
The arrest also formed part of Operation Vala Umgodi.
“Mining equipment was discovered within the illegal mining sites that included spades, buckets and a hose pipe and confiscated by the police,” Ledwaba said.
The suspects will appear before the Sekhukhune Magistrate’s Court in this week on charges of illegal mining.
