Smuggling Syndicate Jailed, Vehicle Forfeited

4 February 2026

SMF News

Three men have been jailed for smuggling a vehicle into Zimbabwe, a move that highlights risks to border security and revenue collection.

Beitbridge Magistrates’ Court sentenced Tumelo Moyo (24), Vusa Mbedzi (39), and Edson Muleya (43) to 15 months in prison after convicting them of smuggling a South African-registered Isuzu D-Max. The trio used a South African passport to fraudulently obtain a Temporary Import Permit and disguised the vehicle with stolen identity plates from a different Isuzu model.

Authorities confirmed the vehicle had never been registered locally and no import duty was paid, potentially costing ZIMRA significant revenue. The court ordered the Isuzu D-Max permanently forfeited to the State.

NPAZ warned that attempts to bypass ports of entry and evade customs duties will face decisive action. Members of the public are urged to ensure all imported vehicles are properly cleared and verified through official systems.

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