A ZIMBABWEAN couple was arrested at the Beit Bridge border post on Friday, trying to smuggle six bars of gold valued at R6 million into South Africa.
According to provincial police spokesperson, Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi, a joint operation of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African Revenue Service’s (SARS) customs unit led to the arrest of the man and woman.
“A dog handler from SARS was completing a routine inspection when he spotted a suspicious looking black Audi sedan with Zimbabwean registration number. The inspector requested to search the vehicle and found a parcel wrapped in a black plastic bag, which was hidden inside the arm rest compartment of the passenger seat,” said Mulaudzi.
He said the SARS official immediately informed the police who then found out that there were six bricks of gold with an estimated value of R6 million in the plastic bag.
“The occupants of the vehicle, the driver (39) and his wife (37), were arrested on the spot and was scheduled to appear before the Musina magistrate’s court on Monday, facing charges of unlawful possession of precious metals,” Mulaudzi explained.
Further investigations would determine whether the couple could be linked to similar cases.
