Zimbabwean national sentenced to 15 years behind bars for trying to smuggle explosives into SA

By Yasmine Jacobs I Multimedia Journalist, IOL News

A Zimbabwean national, Josephat Bayayi, 43, was convicted and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for smuggling explosives across the border from Zimbabwe to South Africa.

In July, South African Revenue Services (Sars) personnel were scanning the vehicles at Beitbridge Port of Entry.

The Beitbridge Port of Entry-based police, the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) and bomb technicians were then summoned to the scene.

When authorities carried out the search and seizure, they found and seized 14 reels of detonating fuses, 747 superpower, 90 blasting cartridges, and 875 carmex connector-capped fuses. These were valued at a total of R456,850.00.

According to an investigation, the explosives were coming from Zimbabwe and were destined for Johannesburg.

The driver was arrested for smuggling the explosives, and a case was opened.

The case was later transferred to the Musina based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation for further handling.