Modjadjiskloof police spokesperson, Warrant Officer, Kgamedi Seshoka said police received a tip-off and chased after a Toyota Quantum mini-bus which was travelling along Lomondekop road towards an N1 to Polokwane.
“Police pulled out the minibus from the road. Three suspects managed to run away while the fourth suspect who was driving was arrested,” said Seshoka.
Seshoka said the taxi was found loaded with big boxes containing 3980 cartons of illegal cigarettes worth over R700 000.
Seshoka said preliminary investigations revealed that the mini-bus was hired from a car rental company in Johannesburg and the illegal cigarettes were destined for Gauteng area.
The arrested suspect, a Zimbabwean national, Israel Phimanda (41) appeared in the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court on Thursday on charges of possession of the illicit cigarettes.
He was remanded in police custody until July 9 pending further investigations by police Organised Crime Unit.
He said Phimanda’s three accomplices are still at large and police are looking for them.
Anyone with information regarding the three suspects is requested to contact Modjadjiskloof Police Station at 015 309 1700.
