SA intercepts 23 Ethiopians smuggled via Zim
SOUTH African police have intercepted 23 Ethiopians soon after they were smuggled into that country from Zimbabwe.
They also arrested the driver of the vehicle they were being smuggled in and another driver of an accomplice’s car who tried to bribe the police.
The group was being transported in two vehicles by armed men believed to be part of a human smuggling syndicate that moves immigrants from the Horn of Africa into South Africa.
In Zimbabwe, the Department of Immigration with the assistance of other security agents have been intercepting Ethiopians, Somalis, Congolese, Eritreans and citizens of countries north of the Zambezi River during their trek to South Africa.
It is understood that their route through Zimbabwe uses illegal crossing points in the northern and eastern parts of the country.
According to security sources, the Limpopo is the main barrier for their trek to South Africa, hence they are intercepted at the border or roads leading to several illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River.
In the latest case, police spokesperson for Limpopo province Colonel Malasela Ledwaba said the group was arrested in the Solomondale area near the city of Polokwane on Saturday.
The group aged between 20 and 40 years have been charged for violating sections of the Immigration Act.
“It is reported that members of the SAPS Limpopo Provincial Tracking Team in conjunction with two private security companies SPS High Risk and Tshimollo Security have acted on operationalised information gathered regarding a motor vehicle, a white Toyota Quantum, that was found driving along R81 road in Solomondale under Sebayeng policing area through Munik road from Beitbridge port of entry in Musina from Zimbabwe to Polokwane in Limpopo, South Africa,” said Col Ledwaba.
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