MBABANE – Police investigations into the arrest of two Botswana nationals found in possession of explosive detonators have widened after the court heard that the suspects are being linked to a heist committed in northern Hhohho.
The two men, Boipuso Jabulani Keagile (48) of Serape and Joseph Tshimologo (44) of Gaborone, appeared before the Mbabane Magistrates Court on charges of illegal possession of explosives and entering and remaining in the country without valid travel documents.
During the remand proceedings, the Crown informed the court that investigations were continuing into robberies and heist-related activities in the Hhohho Region, where the explosive materials allegedly recovered from the accused were suspected to have been used.
According to court records, the pair was arrested at about 4pm on June 23 along Bethusile Street in Mbabane.
Police allege that the men were found in possession of two 120-centimetre NONEL detonator tubes without a licence or permit, an offence under the Explosives Act.
The accused persons were also charged with entering and remaining in the Kingdom of Eswatini without valid permits.
When the matter came before Mbabane Senior Magistrate Sifiso Vilakati, the accused indicated that they intended to seek legal representation.
Prosecutor Mzwandile Nxumalo successfully applied for the suspects to be remanded in police custody until June 29 to allow investigators to complete ongoing investigations.
The court subsequently ordered that the accused remain in custody.
Commonly known as shock tube, NONEL tubing consists of a hollow plastic tube coated internally with a thin layer of reactive explosive material and aluminium powder. It is designed to transmit a non-electric signal to a detonator, initiating a blast without the use of electrical wiring.
The technology is widely used in mining operations, quarrying activities, controlled demolitions and other specialised blasting applications.
In several countries across the region, stolen explosive materials have previously been linked to ATM bombings, attacks on cash-in-transit vehicles and organised criminal operations.
Sources indicated that investigators were now focusing on establishing how the explosive materials entered the country and whether additional individuals may have assisted the suspects.
Detectives are also investigating the suspects’ movements within Eswatini and whether they had established local contacts before their arrest.
The investigation took a dramatic turn shortly after the court proceedings when two additional suspects were arrested within the Mbabane Magistrates Court precinct.
Witnesses said plain-clothes police officers moved swiftly to arrest a Botswana national and a liSwati man who had reportedly come to check on the two accused persons.
The arrests unfolded shortly after Keagile and Tshimologo had boarded a police vehicle following their remand hearing.
Members of the public watched as officers intercepted the men and conducted searches on both the suspects and a white Volkswagen Polo with local registration plates that had arrived at the court.
The operation attracted widespread attention from people gathered around the court premises.
Police reportedly ordered all occupants out of the vehicle before carrying out a thorough search.
During the search, officers allegedly recovered a knife from the Botswana national.
The suspect was immediately arrested and later charged with being found in possession of a dangerous weapon in public.
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