Seven people have been arrested for possession of counterfeit cigarettes with an estimated street value of R1.6-million.
This is according to the Sebenza SAPS communications officer, Constable Sharon Mahamba-Tsotsotso.
According to Cst Tsotsotso, police received a tip-off about a truck that came to deliver goods at a warehouse in Chloorkop.
Cst Tsotsotso said on Friday, around 8pm while the police were on a crime prevention operation, a man who did not want to be identified called to report a truck which was making deliveries. The man suspected it may be carrying illegal goods.
The SAPS went to the warehouse and found seven men; six Pakistani nationals and a Malawian truck driver, offloading the goods. Const Tsotsotso said, upon investigation, the police discovered 166 boxes of counterfeit cigarettes.
Const Tsotsotso said the truck driver is employed to transport cattle feed products from Zambia to South Africa.
“We suspect that the driver has been working with the Pakistani nationals to transport the counterfeit cigarettes because inside the truck we found the cattle feed stock and the cigarettes,” said Const Tsotsotso.
Cst Tsotsotso said the men were arrested and charged with possession of counterfeit cigarettes as well as possession of stolen goods. The suspects appeared in court on June 22 and are expected to appear again on July 3 for their bail application.
