Undocumented Zimbabwean National Arrested in Mpumalanga with Hundreds of Passports and Large Sum of Cash
Mpumalanga police have apprehended a 43-year-old undocumented Zimbabwean national after he was allegedly found in possession of over 500 passports and a substantial amount of cash, totalling R147,300. The arrest took place following a tip-off regarding a man transporting a large number of passports and cash in a white Chevrolet utility bakkie with a canopy.
According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Captain Mpho Nonyane-Mpe, a multidisciplinary team, consisting of members from the Middelburg flying squad, the Nkangala district anti-hijacking team, and Waterval Boven SAPS, acted on the information and successfully intercepted the vehicle, which bore a Gauteng registration number.
"A search was carried out whereby the following items were found: 582 passports, some of which had some cash inside, hidden underneath a compartment, and a separate amount of cash of about R20,000, covered inside a black plastic bag," stated Nonyane-Mpe. The passports were discovered to belong to Malawian, Zimbabwean, and Mozambican nationals. Some of the passports even had wads of cash concealed within them.
The police believe the suspect was en route to a border gate with the intention of having the passports stamped on behalf of their owners. "Investigation thus far suggests that the driver was probably going to meet someone the next day to have the passports stamped. Police are of the view that the recovered cash was meant for payment," Nonyane-Mpe explained.
The suspect now faces serious charges, including contravention of the Immigration Act of South Africa, fraud, and money laundering. In addition to the cash and passports, the bakkie driven by the suspect has also been confiscated by the authorities for further investigation.
The acting Mpumalanga police commissioner, Major-General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, has praised the collaborative efforts of the multidisciplinary team involved in the arrest. He expressed his appreciation for their "hard work and dedication" in bringing the suspect to justice.
"We are following up [on] this matter and will not leave any stone unturned. At this stage we will ensure that those who are involved are brought to book," said Mkhwanazi.
The suspect was expected to appear at the Waterval Boven periodical court on Wednesday to face the charges against him. The case has raised concerns about potential illegal activities involving cross-border movement and the fraudulent use of passports.
Authorities are determined to uncover the full extent of the operation and bring all those involved to justice. The investigation continues to unfold, with police exploring all possible leads to dismantle any network associated with the suspect's alleged activities.
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