A daring cross-border vehicle smuggling attempt was thwarted when Solomon Chiloane, 34, was arrested and appeared in the Mokopane Magistrate’s Court on 15 July 2025, charged with possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle.
The suspect’s case was postponed to 29 July for further investigations and a possible bail application, though police have confirmed the State will oppose bail. Chiloane remains in custody.
According to Limpopo police spokesperson Sergeant Malesela Ledwaba, a white Toyota Hilux reported stolen in Lyttelton, Pretoria on 12 July was tracked traveling along the R101 toward Limpopo. Acting on a tip-off, the Anti-Smuggling Task Team partnered with private security to intercept the vehicle in Mokopane.
The driver failed to provide a credible explanation for the vehicle’s origin. The Hilux, valued at over R700,000, was allegedly intended for illegal smuggling into Zimbabwe.
This operation underscores ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to clamp down on cross-border crime and protect South African assets from theft and illicit exportation.
