A luxury vehicle worth more than R2 million, allegedly destined to be smuggled out of South Africa through the Beitbridge border post, has been recovered by police following a coordinated anti-smuggling operation in Limpopo.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), a multi-disciplinary operation involving the Provincial Investigation Unit, Provincial Tracking Team and several private security partners led to the recovery of a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser 300 ZX valued at R2.2 million and the arrest of a 46-year-old suspect on the N1 near Makhado.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said the operation was launched after authorities received information that a suspected stolen vehicle was being transported from Gauteng to Limpopo and was intended to be smuggled out of the country through the Beitbridge Port of Entry.
“Acting on information that a suspected stolen vehicle was on its way from Gauteng to Limpopo for smuggling out of the country through the Beitbridge Port of Entry, operational teams kept observation along the N1 from Gauteng,” Mashaba said.
The vehicle, described as a white Toyota Land Cruiser 300, in ZX trim, was spotted travelling north near Makhado and was subsequently intercepted by law enforcement officers.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the luxury SUV had been reported stolen in Benoni, Gauteng, on July 18, 2026.
“The vehicle, a white Toyota Land Cruiser ZX, was spotted travelling north near Makhado and was stopped,” Mashaba said.
The 46-year-old driver was immediately arrested and is expected to appear before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Monday, July 27, 2026.
He faces charges of possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle and operating a motor vehicle without a valid driving licence.
Police said investigations into the matter remain ongoing and have not ruled out the possibility of additional arrests as they continue to probe the suspected vehicle-smuggling network.
The operation was conducted with the assistance of private security partners, including ShadowSecure Security, Tracker Connect, Tshimollo Security and Investigations, Limpopo Tactical Security and Bas Secure.
“Police investigations are ongoing,” Mashaba said.
IOL News
Get your news on the go. Download the latest IOL App for Android and IOS now.
Wendy Dondolo
iol.co.za
