Smugglers are turning the Beitbridge Border Submit into a criminal offense hotspot as they repeatedly flood with items value tens of millions of rand yearly.
Smuggling has turn into a perennial headache for authorities for each international locations who normally are collaborating to minimise the difficulty.
A battle in opposition to smuggling
Early this 12 months, Zimbabwean authorities launched measures to curb smuggling underneath the Customs and Excise (Designated Deemed Smuggled Items) Rules 2025.
Authorities will deem ‘imported’ items as smuggled except wholesalers, retailers, or people present legitimate proof, together with proof of obligation funds and official receipts.
The border sees frequent smuggling of these things:
Cigarettes smuggling
Sources say South African customs legal guidelines limit Zimbabwean exporters from legally transferring cigarettes into the nation. This results in a surge in smuggling of assorted manufacturers.
Cigarettes prime the checklist of Beitbridge’s most profitable contraband.
South African authorities have routinely seized manufacturers corresponding to Remington Gold smuggled from Zimbabwe. One of many largest busts in latest months concerned cigarettes value about R14 million.
This underscores how the commerce continues to thrive regardless of tighter border controls.
Illicit cough syrups and prescription drugs
Smugglers are more and more transferring banned or managed prescription drugs like Broncleer, a cough syrup typically abused as a narcotic.
In April 2025, authorities intercepted a truck carrying 342 bottles valued at US$16,400 (R 283,000). A number of different busts involving cough syrups and dagga present how smuggling can be feeding into the area’s drug downside.
Dagga (hashish)
Beitbridge has turn into a key transit level for hashish trafficking between southern African international locations. In March 2025, police seized 163 kilograms of dagga valued at round R32 million. This was adopted by one other bust in June involving 307 kilograms hidden in a bus.
Explosives and harmful supplies
In one of the crucial alarming incidents, a Zimbabwean man was arrested for smuggling explosives value about R600,000 by means of Beitbridge.
The Herald experiences {that a} Zimbabwean truck driver was arrested on the Beitbridge Port of Entry on 11 March 2025; the haul included 16 reels of detonating fuse and a couple of ,182 “Superpower 90” blasting cartridges, with a mixed estimated worth of over R600,000.
This highlighted that syndicates pose potential dangers to public security
Meat smuggling
In a single case, Zimbabwean authorities seized 1.6 tonnes of frozen hen.
Authorities consider smugglers introduced the meat from South Africa into Zimbabwe by means of Beitbridge, reportedly sure for Harare.
Meat smuggling has raised meals security considerations, with authorities warning that such merchandise typically bypass well being inspections.
Antiretroviral (ARV) medicine
In October 2025, South African authorities found a whole lot of bins of ARV tablets after a bus accident. Authorities believed syndicates stole the tablets from public well being amenities to smuggle them throughout the border for resale.
Alcohol, clothes and home equipment
Smugglers typically transfer on a regular basis objects: clothes, footwear, electrical home equipment, and alcohol, in combined consignments.
