MBABANE – On Tuesday at approximately 2:20am, the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) successfully intercepted a vehicle at Hhuhhuma in the Lubombo Region, uncovering 33 goats that were allegedly being smuggled into the Republic of South Africa.
The operation was carried out by UEDF troops during a routine patrol as part of their ongoing mandate to secure the kingdom’s boundaries.
According to UEDF Public Relations Officer Major Sandile Gwebu, the suspects apprehended at the scene included a liSwati male adult and a South African female adult. Following the interception, the suspects, the vehicle, and a meat carcass found during the inspection were handed over to the relevant law enforcement agencies for further processing. Major Gwebu highlighted that this incident is indicative of a broader and deeply concerning trend of livestock smuggling along the borderline.
This recent seizure is part of a recurring pattern of criminal activity. Just last month, on February 9, 2025, UEDF troops on a routine patrol in the Big Bend area stopped a vehicle driven by a liSwati male. Upon inspection, soldiers discovered a freshly slaughtered goat carcass inside the car. Subsequent interrogation of the suspect led authorities to a second location, where it was established that 30 goats had already been successfully smuggled into South Africa.
At that site, troops recovered only one additional carcass and apprehended a second liSwati male adult.
The UEDF has issued an alert to the public regarding these persistent smuggling efforts, noting that despite the institution’s tireless, round-the-clock work to curb such activities, livestock theft remains a major concern.
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