‰‘˜‘‡”†•ͳͺƒ„„‹Ž‡Ž‹†‘„™› ‘”–Š ‘ˆ
MBABANE – Over E18 million worth of goods that were smuggled out of the country were nabbed by the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF).
This is contained in the Ministry of National Defence and Security’s annual performance report for the year 2022/2023. These goods and livestock were busted in the country’s borderlines which are protected by the UEDF.
Border protection is the primary responsibility of the defence force, and it entails actions and conduct against illegal infiltration and exfiltration along the country’s boundary. In any other task that may arise from this, the police are in support of the defence force, however, remain primarily responsible for the application of law in terms of moral police tasks.
Crossings
The report states the items were busted from illegal border crossings. Worth noting is that along the borderlines, there are informal crossings that are recognised by the government.
Informal border crossings are defined as designated areas by the UEDF along the country’s borders for the purpose of permitting communities living along both sides of the boundary to access basic needs and services within their neighbouring communities. These are different from illegal border crossings which are conducted by those with criminal intent to break the law. During the year under review, the UEDF recorded a total of 233 929 crossings into and out of the country, with 119 847 entries and 114 082 exits. These are the ones who used informal crossings.
There had been also illegal cross border criminal activities and smuggling of goods which were successfully curbed by the force.
The UEDF disclosed that in the year under review they have saved 69 cattle worth over E550 000 that were being smuggled to neighbouring countries including Mozambique and South Africa.
Still on livestock, the UEDF reported that a total of 82 goats worth E98 400 were controlled being rustled out of the country as well as one sheep worth E1 500.