The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) says the use of drones is a game-changer in the fight against smuggling and illegal border crossings along Zimbabwe’s border with South Africa.
This comes after ZIMRA, working with other border agencies, successfully intercepted and destroyed 21 boats and 20 paddles used for smuggling contraband across the Limpopo River on Tuesday.
The majority of these boats were located with the help of drone surveillance technology.
In a statement, ZIMRA Commissioner General Regina Chinamasa said the operation involved ZIMRA’s elite Drone Operations Team, Customs Officers, and other border security personnel who patrolled key smuggling hotspots.
The drones provided real-time aerial intelligence, enabling the swift interception and destruction of smuggling infrastructure.
She also said the drones have revolutionized border security by offering unmatched aerial surveillance capabilities, making it possible to track smugglers in real-time, even in previously hard-to-reach remote areas.
Equipped with night vision and high-resolution cameras, the drones have been crucial in identifying illegal crossing points and uncovering extensive smuggling networks. Said Chinamasa:
<blockquote>
This is a game-changer in our fight against smuggling. The use of drones has allowed us to detect smuggling activities with precision and speed, ensuring that illicit goods never make it into the market,” said the Commissioner General.
Smuggling is not just about tax evasion—it’s an attack on Zimbabwe’s economy, local industries, and the safety of our communities.
Through this collaborative approach, we are sending a strong message: Zimbabwe’s borders will not be a playground for criminals.
</blockquote>
Chinamasa said the operation focused on five key smuggling routes, known as Valley 1 &amp; 2, Proof, Godfather, and Thembani.
Surveillance teams discovered several inflatable boats positioned on both the South African and Zimbabwean sides of the border.
These boats, along with vehicles and donkey-drawn carts, were ready to transport smuggled goods across the border.
She underscored that such smuggling activities harm local businesses by flooding the market with untaxed goods, hurting Zimbabwean manufacturers, and depriving the government of vital revenue needed for public services.
Chinamasa assured that ZIMRA will continue to strengthen its efforts by increasing drone patrols, working closely with other security agencies, and using advanced technology, like AI and night-time surveillance, to track down smugglers and stop their operations.

Pindula News

Zimbabwe is using drones to stop people from smuggling things across the border with South Africa. The drones helped find and destroy 21 boats and 20 paddles used for smuggling. The drones have special cameras and can see in the dark. This helps catch smugglers quickly. Smuggling hurts Zimbabwe's economy and businesses. ZIMRA will keep using drones to catch smugglers and work with other security agencies to stop illegal activities.

Eyes In The Sky: ZIMRA Leverages Drone Technology To Combat Smuggling

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), on Tuesday, 11 February, struck a blow against illegal border crossings and smuggling activities along the Limpopo River.
ZIMRA officers confiscated and destroyed a fleet of 21 boats and 20 paddles used by border jumpers and smugglers to illegally cross the river.
The boats, often employed for illicit trade and illegal immigration, were seized in a coordinated effort aimed at curbing the rampant smuggling between Zimbabwe and South Africa. ZIMRA said:
<blockquote>
Today, along the Limpopo River, ZIMRA and other stakeholders successfully confiscated and destroyed 21 boats and 20 paddles that were being used for smuggling.
We remain committed to ensuring that everyone pays their fair share of duties and taxes while combating smuggling, which creates an unfair playing field for legitimate businesses and exposes civil society to illicit goods and substances. Smuggling destroys local companies.
A huge thank you to our dedicated Customs Officers for their tireless work to keep our borders secure, ensuring legitimate trade flows smoothly while protecting us from illicit goods.
</blockquote>
In recent months, ZIMRA has been ramping up efforts to crack down on smuggling, with a series of targeted operations based on valuable intelligence.
These operations have included using drone surveillance to keep an eye on remote areas and track smuggling activity in real-time.
As part of these efforts, ZIMRA has been seizing and destroying boats, paddles, and other smuggling tools, even dismantling some of the infrastructure along the Limpopo River.
They’ve also been setting up 24-hour roadblocks on major routes to keep a watchful eye on vehicles and ensure that smuggled goods don’t make it through the country unnoticed.

ZIMRA, a government organization, took action against illegal activities along the Limpopo River. They confiscated and destroyed 21 boats used for smuggling between Zimbabwe and South Africa. The boats were used to transport illegal goods and people. ZIMRA is working hard to stop smuggling and keep businesses safe. They are using drones and patrols to catch smugglers in action. ZIMRA is focused on stopping illegal activities and making sure everyone follows the rules.

ZIMRA Confiscates And Destroys 21 Boats On Limpopo River

South African police have seized seven inflatable boats on the Limpopo River bank which they believe have been used to smuggle counterfeit goods between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
<a href="https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2024-05-09-inflatable-boats-seized-at-south-africazimbabwe-border/">TimesLive</a> cited Limpopo police spokesperson Col Malesela Ledwaba as saying the boats were seized by the border policing team at the Beitbridge port of entry.
During a crackdown by a multidisciplinary team on Tuesday, police also arrested 26 suspects for various offences which include illegal mining, possession of illicit cigarettes and border jumping.
The team impounded mining equipment, including tipper trucks, an excavator, jackhammers, iron bars and shovels.
The suspects are expected to appear in various magistrate’s courts.
The Zimbabwe-South Africa border is porous, allowing smugglers to move goods and people. Smugglers have even constructed makeshift wooden bridges to facilitate their operations.
In other cases, smugglers use inflatable boats to transport contraband items across the Limpopo River.
The goods smuggled include cigarettes, explosives, stolen vehicles and groceries.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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