The coordinated efforts of Limpopo law enforcement have once again paid off, with the recovery of a stolen vehicle and the arrest of a foreign national suspected of involvement in cross-border smuggling activities.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba confirmed that a 49-year-old Ethiopian man was intercepted while driving a stolen Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid along the N1 highway towards Polokwane.
Ethiopian Man Arrested: Swift Police Action
According to Ledwaba, officers acted on intelligence about a suspected stolen vehicle that was reportedly travelling from Gauteng.
“Operational teams immediately launched an anti-smuggling operation and kept the vehicle under close observation,” he said.
The vehicle, valued at approximately R400,000, was brought to a stop as it entered Polokwane. A check at the scene revealed that the car had been stolen in Heidelberg, Gauteng, in January 2025.
Suspect in Custody
The driver was arrested on the spot and is scheduled to appear in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 10 September 2025, on a charge of possession of a stolen motor vehicle. Police investigations into the matter are still ongoing.
Previous Similar Cases
This arrest comes just months after another foreign national, 37-year-old Zimbabwean Joseph Kungwengwe, was sentenced to six years’ direct imprisonment for driving a stolen Toyota Corolla Cross destined for Zimbabwe. That vehicle, reported stolen in Brakpan in 2024, was intercepted in Mokopane before reaching the Beitbridge border post.
Ledwaba previously noted that criminal networks often attempt to smuggle high-demand vehicles, particularly Toyota Corolla Cross models, out of South Africa through Limpopo’s border routes.
Ongoing Efforts
Authorities have emphasized their commitment to curbing vehicle smuggling syndicates that exploit South Africa’s borders. The Limpopo tracking team, provincial investigating unit, and external partners continue to intensify intelligence-driven operations to intercept stolen vehicles before they leave the country.
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