In a dramatic twist on a quiet Mpumalanga route, a Mozambican national’s alleged mission to smuggle a stolen Toyota Hilux back across the border came to a screeching halt in Low’s Creek, near Nelspruit. The man was intercepted while attempting to drive the vehicle, which had reportedly been stolen in Pretoria, toward Mozambique—a known hotspot for smuggled South African vehicles.
Local authorities, acting on intelligence, managed to intercept the Hilux before it disappeared into the often-untraceable black market networks operating across the border. The arrest has sparked renewed concern over the increasing frequency of cross-border vehicle thefts, particularly targeting popular utility vehicles like the Hilux, which are in high demand in neighbouring countries.
While investigations continue, officials have not ruled out the involvement of a broader syndicate. The arrest underscores both the vigilance of South African law enforcement and the ongoing challenges in curbing the illegal trafficking of vehicles through porous borders.
