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Smuggling suspects flee into Zimbabwe as Lim police thwart operation

Items such as alcohol, energy drinks, flour and other consumer goods were being loaded on to eight boats before the Limpopo police intervened.

LIMPOPO – The SAPS’ Operation Vala Umodi thwarted a major smuggling operation along the Limpopo River in the Musina policing area leading to the confiscation of goods valued at R500k.

The operation’s National Intervention (Roving) Team was conducting a mid-morning routine patrol near the Tshirundu village on Saturday (January 11) when they received a tip-off about eight small boats loading goods.

“When the suspects noticed the police, they got into the boats and fled back into Zimbabwe, abandoning most of the goods. The confiscated items, which were likely being smuggled across the border, include alcoholic beverages, energy drinks, baked goods, flour, and other consumer goods, along with a chest fridge,” said police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Thakeng.

The provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe commended the team for their swift and decisive action, noting that the success of the operation highlights SAPS’ ongoing commitment to combating cross-border crimes and illegal trade activities.

“All seized items have been registered at the Musina SAPS for further investigation and processing,” Thankeng concluded.

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Raeesa Sempe

Raeesa Sempe is a Caxton Award-winning Digital Editor with nine years’ experience in the industry. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Media Studies from the University of the Witwatersrand and started her journey as a community journalist for the Polokwane Review in 2015. She then became the online journalist for the Review in 2016 where she excelled in solidifying the Review’s digital footprint through Facebook lives, content creation and marketing campaigns. Raeesa then moved on to become the News Editor of the Bonus Review in 2019 and scooped up the Editorial Employee of the Year award in the same year. She is the current Digital Editor of the Polokwane Review-Observer, a position she takes pride in. Raeesa is married with one child and enjoys spending time with friends, listening to music and baking – when she has the time. “I still believe that if your aim is to change the world, journalism is a more immediate short-term weapon." – Tom Stoppard

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