A 43-year-old Zimbabwean national is expected to appear in the Belfast Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga on Monday after being found in possession of more than 580 passports and over R147 000 in cash.
The suspect, Edward Chitaizvi, was arrested in the Waterval area last week after police discovered the passports and cash hidden inside his bakkie.
Authorities suspect Chitaizvi was on his way to meet an individual who would have illegally stamped the passports. The cash is believed to have been intended as a bribe to facilitate the unlawful activity.
Chitaizvi is facing charges of fraud, money laundering and contravening the Immigration Act. Investigations into the matter are continuing.