KZN police make R800k illicit cigarette bust

As the demand for illegal cigarettes grows during level 4 lockdown, KwaZulu-Natal police have bust three men with around R800,000 worth of product.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker on Monday said the eThekwini central cluster task team arrested three men, aged between 29 and 36, after a large quantity of cigarettes were discovered.

“Police pounced on the suspects at a building on Prince Street in the Point policing precinct after holding observation on the building,” said Naicker.

During the operation, 71 boxes of tobacco, prescription drugs and illicit cigarettes were recovered.

“The recovered items are estimated to be approximately R800,000 in value. The suspects were charged for dealing in illicit cigarettes and dealing in prescription contraband,” Naicker added.

The three men were released on R1,000 bail each and will appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on 6 August.

Fin24 reported that the Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association (Fita) argued in court papers filed on Monday there was no proof Covid-19 was spread through smoking cigarettes.

The association served the government with court papers, filed at the High Court in Pretoria, to challenge the decision to retain the ban on the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products during Level 4 of the lockdown.

Fita is also seeking the courts to have cigarettes and tobacco declared as essential goods.

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday said that the government’s decision to maintain the ban on cigarette sales was bound to be controversial, but added it was wrong to suggest that he and the ministers were “doing and saying whatever they want” on the matter.

He said the National Command Council had reconsidered the decision to lift the ban on cigarette sales following consultation. He said it was a collective decision.

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