South Africa’s anti-smuggling task team successfully intercepted a group of 20 Ethiopian nationals who were illegally smuggled into the country. The dramatic incident unfolded following a high-speed chase and a shootout with the transporter responsible for bringing the group into South Africa.
According to Limpopo police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Thakeng, the operation took place on Tuesday in the Mahwelereng area. The smuggling operation was disrupted after police received intelligence about a suspicious white Ford Ranger double cab transporting illegal immigrants from the Beitbridge border post, heading towards Johannesburg.
“Police responded swiftly and intercepted the vehicle along the N11 road. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver refused to comply and sped off at high speed, triggering a tense car chase,” Lieutenant Colonel Thakeng reported.
During the pursuit, gunfire was exchanged between the police and the transporter. The driver of the vehicle opened fire, forcing police to return fire. The chase came to a dramatic end when the vehicle lost control and veered off the road, eventually coming to a halt in nearby bushes.
Two individuals inside the vehicle sustained injuries during the shootout. However, the driver and another passenger managed to escape the scene on foot, avoiding immediate arrest. A manhunt has since been launched to track down the two suspects who fled.
Upon inspecting the vehicle, authorities discovered 20 Ethiopian men crammed inside. The men, aged between 18 and 44, were unable to produce any valid travel documents. They were immediately arrested for violating South Africa’s immigration laws.
Lieutenant Colonel Thakeng confirmed that the Ethiopian nationals are currently in police custody and will soon appear before the Mahwelereng Magistrates Court to face charges related to illegal entry and immigration offenses.
Meanwhile, efforts to capture the two suspects who fled the scene are ongoing, as police continue their investigation into the smuggling operation.
This incident highlights the growing challenge of illegal immigration and smuggling activities along the Beitbridge border post, which connects Zimbabwe and South Africa. The border is often used by smugglers transporting people from East and Central African countries hoping to cross into South Africa in search of better opportunities.
In Zimbabwe, immigration officials, with support from other security agencies, have been battling similar cases. Groups of migrants from Ethiopia, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, and other nations north of the Zambezi River are frequently intercepted while attempting to make their way southwards.
According to security sources, these migrants typically use illegal crossing points along Zimbabwe’s northern and eastern borders. Their most dangerous obstacle remains the Limpopo River, which serves as a natural border between Zimbabwe and South Africa. It is at this critical point that many of these migrants are intercepted either along the river or on nearby roads leading to illegal crossing routes.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as human smuggling operations remain a serious concern in the region.