Forty-six Zimbabweans were arrested at the Beit Bridge Border Post for attempting to cross into South Africa with suspected fraudulent emergency travel documents (ETDs), police have said.

The suspects were arrested last Tuesday, following their interception by immigration officials at the border post.

The local police spokesperson, Ins Emmanuel Mahoko, said officials manning the Beit Bridge Border Post effected the arrest after police in Gweru phoned them in connection with 10 500 ETD forms that had gone missing at the local registrar´s offices. "An alert border post official noted that the serial numbers on the ETDs of the suspects matched those that had gone missing at the local registrar´s office. Initially, the officers at the border post were turning away people with documents suspected to be fraudulent, until we phoned them which led to the arrests," said Insp Mahoko.

He said it was still possible to arrest more people with fraudulent documents if the police and border post officers remained vigilant. "Investigations are underway. We will continue monitoring the situation until all the culprits involved are brought to book," said the police spokesperson.

He said police also arrested four officials from the local registrar´s office on August 26, following the unearthing of a massive scam involving 10 500 ETD forms that had gone missing.

The arrested officers are Spiwe Mukombe Mugadza (38) an accountant, David Chinhanda (39), Rudo Mhlophe (29) and Vimbai Chagwa (31) all processing officers, after an audit was instituted which established that some ETD forms were missing. Two more people, Fara Mlambo (32) and Stephen Makasa (29, who were allegedly acting as middlemen in processing the stolen ETD forms, were also arrested.