By Thokozani Mazibuko
IN a scene that sounds like a Hollywood movie, members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) pounced on a 39-year-old man trying to cross into Eswatini illegally.
What began as a random stop and search soon unravelled into what officers believe was an attempted smuggling.
The 39-year-old suspect was caught trying to cross the border of South Africa to Eswatini by jumping through a fence instead of using the gate.
The officers stopped and searched him. According to the SAPS, the suspect was caught red-handed with a substantial amount of cash concealed in a black plastic bag.
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“He was holding a black plastic bag whereby a cash amount of R424 800 (Four hundred and Twenty-four thousand eight hundred Rand) was found and seized,” SAPS spokesperson Captain Dineo Sekgotodi said.
She added that information was escalated to South Africa’s crime-fighting unit, the Hawks’ Secunda-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation office which took over the crime scene.
Sekgotodi added that during interrogation, the suspect was asked where the money was coming from and where he was taking it.
“He couldn’t give a clear explanation. It was also discovered that the money was not declared as per FIC Act 38 of 2001 in terms of section 54 read with section 30.
He was then arrested and charged with possession of suspected stolen property. The money was seized and booked in at the SAP 13,” she said.
The suspect is set to appear at the Elukwatini Magistrate Court on Wednesday (today), where charges relating to money laundering and illegal border crossing are expected to be laid against him. Sekgotodi added that investigations were still ongoing.
Officials from the Border Management Authority have stressed the importance of monitoring border activities closely to counteract smuggling operations that undermine the region’s security.
“This incident shows the diligence of our border patrol units and the importance of remaining vigilant in the fight against financial crimes and illegal crossings,” stated an officer from the Border Management Authority.
The commissioner of the Border Management Authority, Dr Michael Masiapato commended the successful interception.
He added that the officers conducted themselves professionally when the suspected attempted to bribe them.
The arrest has shone the spotlight on the cross-border crime syndicates that have been terrorising residents of both Eswatini and South Africa.
In July this year, members of the SAPS, Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) arrested a man for possession of hijacked cars.
The law enforcement agencies followed up a tip-off about a syndicate that allegedly hijacks and steals vehicles from South Africa and transports them to eSwatini.
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SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo at the time said information led the team to a house in Kibler Park, south of Johannesburg.
Inside the yard, there were four vehicles − a Toyota Fortuner reportedly hijacked in Jeppe, an Isuzu bakkie reportedly hijacked in Heidelberg, a BMW that was tampered with and a Land Rover Discovery.
“Inside the house, police found different eSwatini registration plates, various eSwatini car registration documents, homemade vin numbers, stencil used to print vin numbers, and other implements,” he said.
A 37-year-old eSwatini national who was found in the house was arrested and charged with possession of hijacked motor vehicles.
