By Bongiwe Zwane-Maseko
A 31-year-old man was arrested at the Oshoek port of entry after he was allegedly found smuggling a consignment of medication into South Africa from Eswatini.
Police spokesperson in Mpumalanga, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, said the 31-year-old was arrested on Friday afternoon.
“The estimated value of the consignment is at about R800 000. According to the information, on that day police were busy with their routine duties and searched a truck that was pulling two trailers,” Mohlala narrated.
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According to IOL News, during the search, police discovered that the truck was carrying “a huge consignment” of medication.
“It is further reported that the truck was from the Kingdom of Eswatini heading to South Africa. The driver is said to have failed to produce authorisation for the transportation of the luggage across the border hence he was locked up and charged for alleged contravention of the Medicines Act.”
Last month, police in Mpumalanga arrested a 33-year-old for allegedly trying to smuggle a grey Volkswagen T-Cross SUV out of South Africa into neighbouring Eswatini via the Oshoek port of entry.
At the time, Mohlala said law enforcement agents continue to make a “major impact” in cases of theft, robbery or hijacking of motor vehicles.
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“One of such successes recently has been the recovery of a grey VW T-Cross SUV with Gauteng registration number plates at Oshoek border on Wednesday night. The breakthrough was witnessed when the suspect, Thulane Mavundla, was reportedly arrested whilst trying to smuggle the said car out of South Africa into the Kingdom of Eswatini through Oshoek port of entry,” said Mohlala.
“According to the information, members of the SAPS from border policing were busy with their normal routine duties, stopping and searching vehicles that were passing through. They then reportedly came across the said vehicle driven by Mavundla. Upon further inspection of the car, that was when they discovered that the vehicle has been allegedly stolen on 21 March 2023 during an armed robbery incident at Sydenham around Johannesburg in Gauteng,” said Mohlala.
Mavundla was immediately arrested and charged with possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle, and he appeared before the Chief Albert Luthuli Magistrate’s Court.
