582 Passports Found: Cops Bust Foreign National With Cash-Stuffed Documents In Shock Mpumalanga Sting

A multidisciplinary police team has arrested a 43-year-old foreign national after discovering 582 passports and a large amount of cash hidden inside a white Chevrolet Utility bakkie in Mpumalanga.

The operation, involving the Middelburg Flying Squad, the Nkangala District Anti-Hijacking Team, and Waterval Boven SAPS, was launched after officers received intelligence about a suspicious vehicle with Gauteng registration plates.

The bakkie was intercepted on 8 December 2025 at around 13:00, leading to a meticulous search by officers.

Cash-Stuffed Passports Found in Secret Compartment

During the search, officers uncovered 582 passports, many of which had cash slipped inside their pages. The documents were hidden beneath a concealed compartment in the vehicle.

Police also found an additional R20 000 in cash wrapped in a black plastic bag, bringing the total seized amount to approximately R147 300.

According to investigators, evidence suggests the suspect was likely en route to meet someone the following day to have the passports fraudulently stamped, with the money believed to be payment for the illicit service.

Suspect Charged as Bakkie Is Seized for Further Investigation

The suspect, a Zimbabwean national, was arrested and charged with:

• Contravention of the Immigration Act,
• Fraud, and
• Money laundering.

The bakkie used during the alleged scheme has been confiscated for further investigation.

The suspect is expected to appear in the Waterval Boven Periodical Court today, 10 December 2025, to face the charges.

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