BEITBRIDGE, March 12 (NewsDayLive) - A 48 year-old Zimbabwean man was on Tuesday arrested on the South African side of Beitbridge Border Post on allegations of smuggling R618 200 worth of explosives from Zimbabwe.
The arrest was made during a routine profiling and search of cross-border haulage trucks, according to a South African Police Service ( Saps) press release Wednesday.
"Police were conducting routine profiling and searching of the trucks at South Gate when they stopped a white MAN truck with Gauteng province registration number.
“They searched the truck and a 48-year-old driver was asked to open the side storage of the trailer but indicated that he did not have the keys. Police became suspicious and asked him to drive to another zone to enable them to force open the locked side storage," said the statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Thakeng of the South African Police Service ( Saps) Limpopo Press Office.
Police summoned the Bomb Disposal Unit after they opened to find 11 red sacks containing what they suspected to be explosives.
"The whole consignment was counted and police found 2118 cartridges and 16 reels of detonator cables with an estimated street value of $618 200,” Saps said.
“The driver failed to provide a satisfactory response about the origin of the explosives and was nabbed on the spot. The truck and explosives were also seized during the arrest.
The suspect is expected to appear at the Musina magistrates court soon facing a smuggling charge.
