News / National
Manhunt launched for smuggling truck driver
07 Sep 2018 at 02:12hrs | Views
POLICE in Victoria Falls have launched a manhunt for the driver and owner of a United Kingdom-marked container truck that was intercepted along Kazungula Road on Friday last week loaded with a Honda Civic vehicle, 105 bales of secondhand clothes and electrical gadgets with an estimated value of $300 000.
The unregistered red DAF truck was enroute to Harare from Walvis Bay in Namibia.
Matabeleland North police spokesperson Siphiwe Makonese confirmed the incident, adding that the driver fled the scene after being intercepted.
She said the consignment entered the country through Kazungula Border Post, where it was cleared before making an exit without being checked.
"Following a tip-off, the truck was intercepted before reaching Victoria Falls town. I have checked with the investigations department and they confirmed that no arrests have been made since the driver abandoned the car and ran away, and there have been no leads with regards to the case," Makonese said.
Police received a tip-off from one trader at the border and a roadblock was mounted at the 20km peg to intercept the truck.
The truck was driven back to Kazungula Border Post by law enforcement agents and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officials. Upon inspection, Zimra officials recovered a Honda Civic vehicle, 104 200l plastic drums filled with secondhand clothes, suitcases, bags and boxes loaded with clothing items, beds, fridges, sofas, shoes and television sets, among other electrical gadgets which were tagged with addresses in Bulawayo, Chitungwiza and Harare.
The driver allegedly fled the scene when the smuggled goods were being offloaded from the truck.
The unregistered red DAF truck was enroute to Harare from Walvis Bay in Namibia.
Matabeleland North police spokesperson Siphiwe Makonese confirmed the incident, adding that the driver fled the scene after being intercepted.
She said the consignment entered the country through Kazungula Border Post, where it was cleared before making an exit without being checked.
"Following a tip-off, the truck was intercepted before reaching Victoria Falls town. I have checked with the investigations department and they confirmed that no arrests have been made since the driver abandoned the car and ran away, and there have been no leads with regards to the case," Makonese said.
Police received a tip-off from one trader at the border and a roadblock was mounted at the 20km peg to intercept the truck.
The truck was driven back to Kazungula Border Post by law enforcement agents and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officials. Upon inspection, Zimra officials recovered a Honda Civic vehicle, 104 200l plastic drums filled with secondhand clothes, suitcases, bags and boxes loaded with clothing items, beds, fridges, sofas, shoes and television sets, among other electrical gadgets which were tagged with addresses in Bulawayo, Chitungwiza and Harare.
The driver allegedly fled the scene when the smuggled goods were being offloaded from the truck.
Source - newsday
