PRETORIA – Three men, including a father-and-son duo, have appeared in court following their arrest in an intelligence-led operation targeting alleged cross-border smuggling networks facilitating illegal movement into Zimbabwe. The suspects Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi (45), Khonsou Seba Capo Chichi (18), and alleged facilitator François van der Merwe were arrested on April 13, 2026, in Brooklyn, Pretoria.

MUSINA — A brazen attempt to smuggle a stolen luxury vehicle across the Limpopo River ended in a dramatic shootout on Friday, as South African security forces engaged a group of suspected carjackers near the Zimbabwean border. The high-speed pursuit, which involved both the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), resulted in the recovery of a grey Toyota Prado valued at approximately R700,000.

BEITBRIDGE — A sophisticated attempt to smuggle industrial-grade explosives into South Africa was thwarted on Monday, April 13, 2026, following a high-stakes joint operation at the Beitbridge Port of Entry.

Semono confirmed that the Local Criminal Record Centre of SAPS was called in to process the firearm and take over the investigation.