News / Regional
Well-organised border jumping syndicate smashed
12 May 2012 at 00:02hrs | Views
POLICE in Beitbridge smashed what appears to be a well-organised border jumping syndicate when they intercepted a Bulawayo cross-border bus, which was carrying 16 undocumented people among them three minors and a Mozambican.
They were caught hiding under the seats of the bus.
The officer commanding police in Beitbridge District, Chief Superintendent Lawrence Chinhengo, said the border jumpers, 15 of them from Bulawayo and a Mozambican, were arrested on Wednesday night following the interception of their bus at a bushy area along the Beitbridge-Bulawayo Road.
"We arrested 16 people who intended to illegally cross into South Africa through an undesignated entry point along the Limpopo River. In fact, we were tipped by our Bulawayo counterparts after they were given information by a suspect they had arrested. The suspect also intended to board the same bus," said Chief Supt Chinhengo.
"We then laid an ambush at a known spot about 10km out of Beitbridge town where omalayitsha normally pick up border jumpers to take them to the crossing points."
On intercepting the bus belonging to Brooklyn Express Company, police found the would-be border jumpers hiding under the seats.
"They were asked to produce travel documents and they failed to do so leading to their arrest. They were fined before we escorted them back to Bulawayo on another bus," said Chief Supt Chinhengo.
He said the border jumpers, seven women, six men and three children were picked up at a house in New Magwegwe suburb in Bulawayo.
The Mozambican was handed over to the immigration authorities and he has since been deported.
Meanwhile, last week police intercepted a group of 16 Somalis who intended to illegally cross into South Africa through an undesignated entry point along the Limpopo River.
The illegal immigrants were arrested by police officers who were on a border patrol exercise.
Chief Supt Chinhengo said the group was handed over to the immigration authorities and they have since been taken to Tongogara Refugee Camp in Chipinge.
The illegal immigrants mostly from East Africa use Zimbabwe as their transit point to South Africa after having sneaked into the country through Nyamapanda Border Post.
Chief Supt Chinhengo said of late there has been an increase in the number of border jumpers capitalising on the drop in water levels in the Limpopo River.
"We continue to warn people against using undesignated entry points along the Limpopo River as they risk being attacked by crocodiles and robbers. Border jumping in itself is an offence punishable by the law," he said.
They were caught hiding under the seats of the bus.
The officer commanding police in Beitbridge District, Chief Superintendent Lawrence Chinhengo, said the border jumpers, 15 of them from Bulawayo and a Mozambican, were arrested on Wednesday night following the interception of their bus at a bushy area along the Beitbridge-Bulawayo Road.
"We arrested 16 people who intended to illegally cross into South Africa through an undesignated entry point along the Limpopo River. In fact, we were tipped by our Bulawayo counterparts after they were given information by a suspect they had arrested. The suspect also intended to board the same bus," said Chief Supt Chinhengo.
"We then laid an ambush at a known spot about 10km out of Beitbridge town where omalayitsha normally pick up border jumpers to take them to the crossing points."
On intercepting the bus belonging to Brooklyn Express Company, police found the would-be border jumpers hiding under the seats.
"They were asked to produce travel documents and they failed to do so leading to their arrest. They were fined before we escorted them back to Bulawayo on another bus," said Chief Supt Chinhengo.
He said the border jumpers, seven women, six men and three children were picked up at a house in New Magwegwe suburb in Bulawayo.
The Mozambican was handed over to the immigration authorities and he has since been deported.
Meanwhile, last week police intercepted a group of 16 Somalis who intended to illegally cross into South Africa through an undesignated entry point along the Limpopo River.
The illegal immigrants were arrested by police officers who were on a border patrol exercise.
Chief Supt Chinhengo said the group was handed over to the immigration authorities and they have since been taken to Tongogara Refugee Camp in Chipinge.
The illegal immigrants mostly from East Africa use Zimbabwe as their transit point to South Africa after having sneaked into the country through Nyamapanda Border Post.
Chief Supt Chinhengo said of late there has been an increase in the number of border jumpers capitalising on the drop in water levels in the Limpopo River.
"We continue to warn people against using undesignated entry points along the Limpopo River as they risk being attacked by crocodiles and robbers. Border jumping in itself is an offence punishable by the law," he said.
Source - TC
