APA-Maputo (Mozambique) Mozambique on Thursday arrested two Pakistan
nationals trying to smuggle US$225 million in cash into Zimbabwe at Machipanda border post in central Manica Province, Radio Mozambique reported here Thursday.

Quoting police officials, the state-controlled broadcaster said the money
was starched in an old sack in the boot of a light vehicle when police and
customs officials pounced on the vehicle while conducting routine checks.
(you can just see them hopping about with wide grins..)
The two Pakistanis did not reveal the purpose of the money but said they
were going to Zimbabwe to update their residence permits in Mozambique since
their diplomatic representation is based there.

Police spokesman in Manica Province, Pedro Jamusse, told the broadcaster
that this is the first ever apprehension of such large sums of money after
Machipanda boarder became notorious for illegal foreign currency transits.
BIG INVESTMENT
"This is a huge apprehension, it's a lot of money and we are still
investing where it (the money) is coming from and its final destination. So
far we have beefed up joint security operation to protect the money now in
the hands of the customs department and the ministry of finance," Jamusse
said.

Mozambique only allows a maximum of US$5000 to go through its boarders,
ports and airports and undeclared money reverts to state coffers upon
seizure.
STIFF NOTES
Television footages showed the US$100 packs of notes starched into an old
sack in the boot of a light five-seat vehicle.

Machipanda boarder post has in the recent past became the hive of
foreign-currency business trading centre as thousands of desperate
Zimbabweans flock to Manica and Chimoio to buy groceries, which are far
cheaper than those found across in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabweans have swamped shops in Manica and Chimoio where basic
commodities, including fuel, are loaded onto trucks.