Crime

MBABANE - A man believed to be the mastermind behind the ongoing theft and smuggling of local goats into South Africa has been arrested.

The owner and driver of a silver-grey Toyota Avensis was apprehended by members of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force during their patrol at around 8:45 am at Manyiseni on Saturday.

The army reportedly established that the suspects, who have since been handed over to the police, worked with others in the theft of goats, which are then smuggled into South Africa.

The driver was arrested shortly after the army detained two suspects believed to be working with him. They are a 24-year-old man of Mambane and 31-year-old man Lukhetseni.

The arrests followed an incident in which the suspects fled the scene, leaving the goats scattered in the bushes. Only eight goats were recovered. The thwarting of the goat theft and smuggling operation occurred in less than three hours after the army intercepted and handed over to the relevant authorities 130 goats that were en route to be smuggled into South Africa.

The livestock thieves were caught alongside a South African national, who was allegedly attempting to smuggle 55 crates of bananas in a white mini-truck. The army sternly cautioned against all forms of criminal activity along Eswatini’s borders. They emphasised that success in curbing border crimes depends on support from local communities and pleaded for increased cooperation.

The man believed to be the mastermind behind the theft and smuggling of goats (L) and his alleged partners in crime. (Courtesy pics)

Some of the goats that were recovered from the alleged thieves.