Two arrested at Kosi Bay for alleged rental vehicle smuggling

Two suspects have been arrested after allegedly trying to smuggle two rental vehicles across the South African border into Mozambique.

On Thursday, 29 October 2026, the Border Management Authority (BMA) intercepted the vehicles at the Kosi Bay Port of Entry in KwaZulu-Natal.

“At approximately 12h30, BMA border guards conducting operations at Kosi Bay identified a white 2025 Ford Ranger double cab, bearing the Mpumalanga registration number, driven by a 75-year-old South African male who intended to cross into Mozambique,” the BMA explained, per a statement.

SMUGGLING AVERTED

An inspection of the vehicle and a subsequent interview with the driver followed. These led the guards to believe that the car was a rental being smuggled across the border.

Their suspicions were confirmed upon contacting the rental company. The company established it had not provided the required cross-border authorisation letter or the relevant Registration Certificate for the vehicle.

“The company further indicated that, according to its tracking records, the vehicle was stationary in Johannesburg,” the statement continues. “Upon activating its Cartrack system to verify the vehicle’s location, the company discovered that the tracking unit had been removed.”

SECOND INTERCEPTION

In the midst of this operation, the BMA border guards identified a second Ford Ranger. The rental company also confirmed the vehicle was one of theirs – specifically, one that was fraudulently rented out.

After alerting the senior commandment, the guards liaised with their Mozambican counterparts. By doing so, they could intercept this vehicle and its driver for further investigation.

During questioning, the driver – identified as a white male – claimed that he had borrowed the vehicle from a friend in Pretoria. However, the authorities found him to be in the alleged possession of fraudulent cross-border authorisation letters and RC1 documents.

“The car rental company,” says BMA, “was requested to provide copies of its genuine cross-border letters and registration documents to assist with verification.”

SMUGGLING STOPPED IN ITS TRACKS

The authorities arrested the suspects and charged them with possession of suspected stolen property, forgery, fraud and uttering.

They were slated to appear in court on Friday, 30 October 2026.

BMA Commissioner, Dr Michael Masiapato, lauded the efforts of the Kosi Bay border guards.

“The BMA has intensified its efforts to identify suspicious movements and continue to prevent vehicles obtained through alleged fraudulent means from being taken across our borders,” said Dr Masiapato. “Through the vigilance of our border guards and timely information-sharing with the rental company, we were able to intervene and prevent the further movement of these vehicles into another country.”

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