A man carrying 34 passports and a sizable sum of cash was apprehended in South Africa following an operation by the Border Management Authority (BMA).
According to BMA spokesperson Mmemme Mogotsi, the guy in possession of the passports was detained on Monday at the Lebombo port of entry into Mozambique.
“During routine inspection, the BMA Border Guards discovered 34 passports accompanied by bank notes in the suspect’s possession,” said Mogotsi.
“Of these 34, 32 belonged to Mozambican nationals and two were identified as belonging to Angolan nationals.”
She claimed that more inquiries are being conducted to ascertain the passports’ origins and that a case of possessing allegedly stolen property has been opened.
IOL has been informed that the 34 passports possessed exit stamps from the Mozambican side.
It seems that the arrested individual intended to have the passports stamped into South Africa, but the vigilant BMA Border Guards stopped him.
Following the arrest, Dr. Michael Masiapato, commissioner of the Border Management Authority, praised the “outstanding” efforts of the BMA Border Guards.
He praised the “vigilance and dedication” of the BMA Border Guards, saying that the passports’ successful seizure and detention sends a message to those who assist in unauthorized travel to and from South Africa, undermining border control procedures.
