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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau

The South African Police Services in Limpopo province says it has arrested a total of 271 border jumpers among them Zimbabweans andrecovered smuggled cigarettes worth R2, 2Million during the festive season operations that were conducted from 18 December to date.

Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said in a statement on Sunday that the illegal immigrants were arrested during roadblocks and stop and search operations that were conducted around the Province.

“Fifty-four of these are undocumented nationals and were arrested on one day,31 December 2019 at a roadblock along the N1 road south of Polokwane.“During the same period, 237 shebeens were closed, 94 licensed liquor premises were charged for noncompliance with the Liquor Act and 6 of them were closed,” he said.

The official said they had also conducted joint operations to prevent cross border crimes including the smuggling of stolen goods from and into the country such as illicit cigarettes and vehicles.

Brig Mojapelo said on New Year’s Eve they seized cigarettes worth R2,2 million at a roadblock along the N1 road south of Polokwane.He said the operations were on going until further notice.