Limpopo police, SANDF smash cross‑border crime syndicates near Zim border
Police said the successes were recorded during operations conducted between 13 and 16 August 2026.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Limpopo, in collaboration with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), has dismantled major cross-border crime syndicates, recovering seven stolen vehicles and seizing over R800,000 worth of illicit cigarettes during a four-day operation. Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the spokesperson for SAPS, revealed that the operations, conducted between August 13 and 16, 2026, targeted strategic areas along the N1, Musina, Tshamutumbu, Makhado, Malaladrift, Sandquest, and surrounding regions near the Limpopo River and Zimbabwean border.
Police deployed officers and SANDF personnel to intercept criminal activities aimed at moving stolen vehicles and smuggling illicit goods across borders. Among the recovered vehicles were a stolen grey Nissan Navara, a hijacked Toyota Land Cruiser, and illicit cigarettes valued at approximately R877,679, including Royal Express and Remington Gold brands.
The operation resulted in the arrest of a 27-year-old Zimbabwean national who was hiding near a stolen vehicle with false registration plates. Provincial Commissioner of Police Jan Scheepers praised the police and SANDF for their vigilance and cooperation in disrupting these criminal networks, vowing to continue pursuing such activities.
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