Police at Beit Bridge smashed another copper-smuggling syndicate when they arrested a 38-year-old Mozambican truck driver, recovering more than 60kg of copper worth R40 000, which was being smuggled into South Africa through Beit Bridge Border Post.

The contraband was hidden inside two tyres disguised as spare wheels.

The local police spokesperson, A/Insp Christopher Ngwenya, said the suspect, Bento Mujujua Muchanja, was arrested on Saturday, following the interception of his truck, a Gauteng-registered Volvo at Beit Bridge Border Post. “Our alert police detectives manning the border area spotted the truck on its arrival at Beit Bridge Border Post. They became suspicious and intercepted the truck before taking it to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) scanners, leading to the discovery of 63.4 kg of copper hidden in two tyres. Muchanja was subsequently arrested,” he said.

On completing the customs formalities, the suspect had declared to ZIMRA that the truck was empty.

Ngwenya said the suspect would appear in court soon.

The latest arrest follow a similar case, in which ZIMRA officials at Beit Bridge Border Post recently intercepted three haulage trucks loaded with consignments of stolen copper, worth about R70 000.

The contraband, some which was also hidden in tyres, was being smuggled into South Africa. The cables were stolen from the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA).

Smuggling cases have been increasing at Beit Bridge Border Post. Last week, a 43-year-old Malawian truck driver and a Beit Bridge clearing agent were arrested for teaming up before attempting to smuggle 262 boxes of cigarettes worth R26 200 into the country. The cigarettes were concealed under a consignment of tea, which was coming from Blantyre in Malawi and destined for Johannesburg.

The Malawian trucker, Frank Austin Chisamba of Blantyre, has since been convicted and fined US$1 000 or two months in jail.