Tashinga Nyasha Masimire, the 33-year-old man arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle 23 pieces of gold worth R11 million into South Africa from Zimbabwe, has been granted R100 000 bail on Monday. Masimire was charged for contravening the Customs Act 91 of 1964 and the Precious Metals Act 37 of 2005.
National spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) Lieutenant-Colonel Philani Nkwalase said Masimire’s release on bail came with strict conditions.
SA Revenue Service officials arrested the Zimbabwean man at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Saturday.
“The alleged smuggler appeared this morning and the matter was postponed to the 1st of July. The suspect was granted R100 000 bail with stringent conditions,” Nkwalase stated to newsmen in Pretoria.
“Some of the conditions include that he should not leave South Africa and he also has to report to the nearest police station at least three times per week.”
At the time of arrest, Nkwalase confirmed the suspect was allegedly found in possession of 23 pieces of gold worth R11 million.
Upon arrival in South Africa, the traveller was requested to scan his luggage at international arrivals’ customs section of the SA Revenue Service and 23 pieces of gold were found in his luggage.
He allegedly failed to declare any items and did not have any permits or licences to be in possession or transport gold, and the Hawks were called to effect the arrest.
In 2020, former Zimbabwe Football Association chief executive officer Henrietta Rushwaya was arrested at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare, on allegations of trying to smuggle 6kg of gold to Dubai.
State media in Zimbabwe reported that the Miners Federation of Zimbabwe president, Rushwaya, was arrested by Criminal Investigation Department detectives after the gold was found in her hand luggage during a search at arrival.