News / Regional
SA 'police spy' killed by cigarette smuggling syndicate
01 Jun 2013 at 06:33hrs | Views
Police have intensified patrols along the Limpopo River following the killing of a 25- year-old man at Dite on Saturday by 15 men who operate a cigarette smuggling syndicate in the area.
The gang accused Swetani Ndou of spying for the South African security forces.
They accused him of alerting that country's police and soldiers whenever they were transporting their consignments which would then be intercepted immediately after crossing the Limpopo River.
It is reported that the group assaulted Ndou for six hours until he died.
Police have arrested 12 people in connection with the matter amid reports that intensive investigations are under way.
The police officer commanding Beitbridge district Chief Superintendent Lawrence Chinhengo said following the incident they intensified patrols involving the police and members of the Zimbabwe national army in a bid to restores order.
He said the operation was dubbed, Ibvai pamuganhu, where they had arrested 15 suspects and recovered an assortment of goods including 230 boxes of Remmington gold, 47 bricks of cigarettes, one fridge, 15 pots, 19kg gas cylinder and a wheelbarrow.
"We had an incident over the weekend where a group of 15 smugglers operating along the river assaulted and killed a man they accused of spying for the South African security forces.
"Investigations so far reveal that they went to Ndou's homestead at around 6am and started beating him up until he died at around 12 in the afternoon.
"A report was then made to the police leading to the arrest of Kenneth Mhazo (28) and Tawanda Mugeri (25) all from Mwenezi on the same day," he said.
He said on the following day they rounded up 22 other suspects and were left with 10 suspects after screening.
He said Mhazo and Mugeri had been charged with murder while the other 10 were still under thorough interrogations.
Chief Supt Chinhengo said following the incident they decided to launch the operation which he said was ongoing until all was well along the boundary line.
"We will not tolerate lawlessness, we want to warn other criminals operating along our boundary line that this time there is no hide and seek," he said.
He said they were still making more recoveries of smuggled goods in the area.
Chief Supt Chinhengo said those smugglers who were intercepted during the operation would soon appear in court for contravening a section of the Customs and Excise Act.
The gang accused Swetani Ndou of spying for the South African security forces.
They accused him of alerting that country's police and soldiers whenever they were transporting their consignments which would then be intercepted immediately after crossing the Limpopo River.
It is reported that the group assaulted Ndou for six hours until he died.
Police have arrested 12 people in connection with the matter amid reports that intensive investigations are under way.
The police officer commanding Beitbridge district Chief Superintendent Lawrence Chinhengo said following the incident they intensified patrols involving the police and members of the Zimbabwe national army in a bid to restores order.
He said the operation was dubbed, Ibvai pamuganhu, where they had arrested 15 suspects and recovered an assortment of goods including 230 boxes of Remmington gold, 47 bricks of cigarettes, one fridge, 15 pots, 19kg gas cylinder and a wheelbarrow.
"We had an incident over the weekend where a group of 15 smugglers operating along the river assaulted and killed a man they accused of spying for the South African security forces.
"A report was then made to the police leading to the arrest of Kenneth Mhazo (28) and Tawanda Mugeri (25) all from Mwenezi on the same day," he said.
He said on the following day they rounded up 22 other suspects and were left with 10 suspects after screening.
He said Mhazo and Mugeri had been charged with murder while the other 10 were still under thorough interrogations.
Chief Supt Chinhengo said following the incident they decided to launch the operation which he said was ongoing until all was well along the boundary line.
"We will not tolerate lawlessness, we want to warn other criminals operating along our boundary line that this time there is no hide and seek," he said.
He said they were still making more recoveries of smuggled goods in the area.
Chief Supt Chinhengo said those smugglers who were intercepted during the operation would soon appear in court for contravening a section of the Customs and Excise Act.
Source - chronicle
