Vigilant troops make record border busts

STOLEN vehicles valued at more than R26 million were intercepted over the past three months by SA National Defence Force (SANDF) troops manning the borders, as part of the long-running Operation Corona.

SANDF spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Seitebatso Pearl Block said contraband goods valued at more than R30 million, coming into South Africa from mainly Zimbabwe and Mozambique have also been confiscated by troops deployed at borders over the past three months.

“The soldiers confiscated contraband goods to the value of R30988844, most of which came from Zimbabwe and Mozambique,” said Block.

“Stolen vehicles to the value of R26 393 531 were intercepted before they could illegally cross the borders by the sharp and always vigilant soldiers deployed along our borders.

“Narcotics valued at R21 473 511 have been confiscated by troops deployed in four provinces, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, the Eastern Cape and the Free State.”

Block said the SANDF troops have broken their records with regards to confiscating contraband goods, narcotics and intercepting stolen vehicles.

“Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the troops deployed at our borders continued to apprehend undocumented persons; they have prevented livestock theft and seized people guiding these livestock towards the borderline,” she said.

Block said more than 12 500 undocumented people were apprehended by the SANDF and handed over to the police.