Arrest of Escaped Mozambican Fugitive Highlights Cross-Border Crime Issues

Nelson Simão Massango, a Mozambican who escaped from a maximum-security prison in December, was arrested in South Africa. He is linked to car thefts in Gauteng, relating to vehicles smuggled into Mozambique. Massango had been serving a 20-year sentence for murder.

Nelson Simão Massango, a Mozambican fugitive who escaped from Maputo’s Maximum Security Penitentiary (BO) in December, has been apprehended by South African authorities in Sandton. His arrest took place at a car rental agency located to the north of Johannesburg. The police have indicated that Massango is suspected of participating in a car theft scheme within the Gauteng province, where stolen vehicles are subsequently trafficked into Mozambique.

In December, Massango was among over 1,500 inmates who fled from the BO prison. He had previously been convicted of murder in 2015 and received a 20-year prison sentence in Mozambique. This series of events highlights ongoing criminal activities associated with incarceration and escape in the region.

The recent arrest of Nelson Simão Massango underscores the challenges that law enforcement faces regarding prison escapes and cross-border criminal activities in Southern Africa. His involvement in car thefts emphasizes a broader issue of organized crime that extends beyond Mozambique’s borders, warranting closer collaboration between regional law enforcement agencies.

Original Source: clubofmozambique.com