On Monday, the police in Mpumalanga arrested 43-year-old Zimbabwean national who was found with 582 passports for Mozambicans and Malawians which had cash inside.
The South African Police Service(SAPS) in Mpumalanga confirmed that acted on a tip-off about the suspect which was driving a vehicle with a registration number of Gauteng province.
"The multidisciplinary team, comprising the Middelburg Flying Squad, Nkangala District Anti-Hijacking Team, and Waterval Boven SAPS, arrested a 43-year-old foreign national with a lot of passports and a large sum of cash. This was achieved after acting on information received about a white Chevrolet Utility bakkie with a canopy. The said vehicle had Gauteng registration number plates. The astute members intercepted the car on 08 December 2025 around 13h00.
"The team spotted the said vehicle and a search was carried out whereby the following items were found:
582 passports, some of which had some cash inside, hidden underneath a compartment. A separate amount of cash of about R20 000, covered inside a black plastic bag," the police said.
The police added that the investigation thus far suggests that the driver was probably going to meet someone the next day to have the passports stamped. Police are of the view that the recovered cash was meant for payment.
The police revealed the nationality of the suspect and confirmed that was charged for breaking immigration laws, fraud and money-laundering.
"The suspect, a Zimbabwean national, was charged with: Contravention of the Immigration Act of South Africa, Fraud, and Money laundering.
The total amount of cash found in possession of the suspect is about R147 300.00. The bakkie driven by the suspect was also confiscated for further investigation,” the police continued.
The suspect is expected to appear at the Waterval Boden Periodical Court today, 10 December 2025, facing the said charges, the police concluded.