Operations maintain momentum to curb crime at Ports of Entry

POLOKWANE – The South African Police Service Border Policing Team in Limpopo through high-density Operation Vala Umgodi have arrested total number of 23 foreign nationals for contravention of the Immigration Act and subsequently seized a homemade wooden step ladder and five donkey carts on the western side of Beitbridge at Marooi area in Vhembe District between Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 April 2024 respectively.

The Police during their disruptive operation have confiscated a number of illegal equipment that are believed to have been used for smuggling persons and counterfeit goods across the Limpopo River between Zimbabwe and South Africa.

In addition, members of the Border Police have discovered abandoned cargo worth thousands of rand; dagga weighing about 9.5kg along the borderline of Beitbridge Port of Entry while they were patrolling the borderline.

A total of 23 foreign nationals were arrested within the vicinity of Beitbridge Port of Entry on Sunday 21 April 2024 and they were referred to the Immigration Officers from the Department of Home Affairs to be processed for direct deportation back to their countries of origin.

In a separate incident the multi-disciplinary forces comprising of members of the SAPS Tactical Response Team, Public Order Police, National Intervention Unit and the South African National Defence Force during their tour of high-density Operation Vala Umgodi have on Sunday 21 April 2024 arrested six male and one female foreign nationals for illegal mining and contravention of the Immigration Act at Atok in Sekhukhune District.

A number of mining equipment that were discovered within the illegal mining sites in Sekhukhune District that included spades, buckets, and hose pipes were confiscated by the Police during the execution of the high-density Operation Vala Umgodi.

The suspects are expected to appear before Sekhukhune Magistrate’s Court soon in the week facing charges of illegal mining.