SAPS arrest two suspects with 247 explosives on th...

SAPS arrest two suspects with 247 explosives on the N1 near Beitbridge

Officials with some of the explosives recovered on the N1 between Musina and Beitbridge on Friday. Picture: SAPS

South African Police Service Beitbridge Task Team have announced the arrest two suspects with more than 240 explosive units the N1 between Musina and Beitbridge on Friday.

Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, said members of the Beitbridge Task Team stopped a blue Toyota Corolla sedan with during a stop and search operation.

“Upon searching the vehicle, the members found four bags in the boot of the car containing 247 blasting cartridges, 1 250 connector capped fuses and seven reels of detonating cords,” he said.

He said the two occupants of the vehicle were immediately placed under arrest while the explosives and the vehicle were confiscated.

“Police investigations into the origin of these explosives and intended destination are underway,” said Ledwaba. He also said that the two suspects will appear in the Musina magistrate court on Monday.

The nationalities of the suspects have not yet been publicised.

In August a 30-year-old South African man appeared before the Beitbridge Magistrate’s Court in Zimbabwe on charges of attempting to smuggle a pistol and 50 rounds of live ammunition into South Africa.

In another incident one woman and two men were arrested by the police at Beitbridge border post and charged with possession of commercial explosives which they were trying to smuggle into South Africa.

Cases of items being smuggled from Zimbabwe into South Africa are on the rise with explosives, guns, oral contraceptives, cigarettes and footwear among the items seized so far.