Hijacked South African cars are flooding into Zimbabwe, over 200 cars seized by Zim authorities
The illicit trade of stolen South African cars into neighbouring countries has reached alarming levels, with criminal syndicates collaborating with law enforcement agencies to facilitate the smuggling operations.
Towns bordering Mozambique and Zimbabwe are witnessing a surge in illegal activities, as ‘outlaw’ smugglers capitalize on porous borders and corrupt practices.
She Corresponds Africa has shed light on the collaboration between criminal elements, police, and the Central Vehicle Registry (CVR), enabling stolen vehicles to be transported across borders and sold to unsuspecting buyers with forged paperwork.
“Roughly three cases per week are brought forward by the National Prosecuting Authority for Zimbabwean motorists found in possession of stolen South African cars,” reports She Corresponds Africa.
In 2022 alone, Zimbabwean authorities seized and impounded over 200 high-end stolen South African cars.
One of the popular smuggling routes identified is over the dried-up Limpopo River, where vehicles with high ground clearance, such as SUVs and bakkies, are preferred due to the terrain.
Luxury sedans often get stuck, requiring inventive methods like using sleds and donkeys to pull them across.
However, when the river is flowing, cars risk becoming submerged and drifting downstream.