3 arrested for smuggling 88 goats from Zimbabwe to South Africa

THREE men have been arrested by South African police for allegedly stealing and smuggling 88 goats from Zimbabwe across the Limpopo River in yet another case highlighting the persistent scourge of cross-border livestock theft.

The trio was apprehended on Tuesday in the Bennde Mutale area of Limpopo Province during a joint tactical operation involving security agents from both Zimbabwe and South Africa, who are working together to tackle cross-border crimes, particularly stock theft.

Limpopo police spokesperson, Colonel Malasela Ledwaba, said the suspects were intercepted following an intelligence-led operation spearheaded by the Makuya Police.

“Concerted efforts by police in the province to combat border crime are yielding results as evidenced by the arrest of three suspects, aged between 31 and 39, for the smuggling of livestock,” he said.

Colonel Ledwaba added that police seized a white Isuzu 4×4 pickup truck with a canopy and a large trailer loaded with 88 goats. The total estimated value of the seized livestock and vehicle is R470 000.

“Police received intelligence regarding a suspicious vehicle fully loaded with goats suspected to have been smuggled from Zimbabwe into South Africa. The vehicle was monitored until it reached the tarred road in Masisi, where it was intercepted,” he said.

The suspects, who failed to produce any documentation proving ownership of the animals, were arrested and are expected to appear before the Thohoyandou Magistrates’ Court on charges of possession of suspected stolen property. Investigations are ongoing.

The illegal movement of livestock across the Limpopo River has become a perennial problem, with goats, cattle and sheep frequently targeted by syndicates operating between the two countries.

Villages along the Limpopo River in Beitbridge are hotspots for stock theft syndicates that exploit the porous Zimbabwe/South Africa border.

The smuggling of goats, sheep and cattle often under the cover of darkness, has been going on for years, with local farmers bearing the brunt of the losses.

In December 2023, South African authorities recovered 105 stolen goats near Tshikwalakwala following a high-speed chase with suspected smugglers.

In August 2022, Zimbabwean police in Beitbridge arrested two men who were attempting to drive over 70 goats across the Limpopo into South Africa using a makeshift wooden raft.

These incidents reflect the complex and persistent nature of stock theft in the region whereby criminal syndicates exploit unpatrolled crossing points to ferry livestock into South Africa. Once across, the animals are quickly sold on the informal market where, for example, goats can fetch between R3 000 and R3 500 each compared to between R600 and R1 000 on the Zimbabwean side.

In an effort to combat this cross-border crime, Zimbabwe and South Africa have enhanced border security through joint patrols, intelligence sharing, and coordinated tactical operations. On their part, farmers and rural communities have formed cross-border neighbourhood watch groups to monitor livestock movement and report suspicious activity.

Cases of stock theft are widespread across Zimbabwe, with rustlers targeting farmers in border areas where they collaborate with cross-border syndicates to steal livestock.

On average, between 5 000 and 10 000 cases of livestock theft are reported each year in the country, according to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Anti-Stock Theft Unit.

Over the years, the unit has intensified its campaigns, deployments and community-based initiatives to combat stock theft, a crime that is causing significant losses to farmers and heightened anxiety in communities that have built their herds over generations. The Chronicle