Mozambique: Police seize two vehicles stolen in South Africa

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Mozambique: Police seize two vehicles stolen in South Africa

1:11 CAT | 06 Oct 2020

Photo: O País

Two vehicles allegedly stolen in neighbouring South Africa were seized yesterday morning in Maputo Special Reserve. The suspects in this case are two young Mozambicans, one of whom claimed to have brought one of the vehicles to the country at someone else’s request.

The mud that covered the two vehicles – the latest recent Toyota Hilux models – suggested a long journey prior to entering Mozambique at the Ponta do Ouro border post in Maputo province.

But inside, the soft, shiny seats and the very low mileage leave no doubt that the cars are brand new.

The authorities suspect that the vehicles, without documentation and with false registration plates, were stolen in neighbouring South Africa on Sunday afternoon and spent the night in the forests of the Maputo Special Reserve.
On Monday morning, however, the drivers failed to exit through the reserve gates.

“We received information from internal sources that there were stolen cars in the Reserve. We carried out an inspection and seized the two vehicles trying to exit,” Paulo Ermelinda, commander of the Environmental Police in the Maputo Special Reserve, explained.

The defendants were arrested, but, once in the hands of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique, have proved themselves men of few words, especially on the subject of car theft.

“I have nothing to declare,” one of the accused submitted. His presumed partner did however say that he had driven the vehicle from South Africa to Mozambique at someone else’s behest. “Someone delivered these vehicles to us in South Africa, and the owner was to come and pick them up in Salamanga. That’s all I can tell you,” he offered.

This is the second time this year that vehicles allegedly stolen in South Africa have been confiscated in Maputo Special Reserve and handed over to the PRM.

The authorities said that they are in contact with their South African counterparts with the aim of returning the vehicles to their owners, one of whom has already been identified.

By Dário Cossa

Source: O País