Three suspects nabbed after police seize over R7.8m worth of illicit cigarettes

South African Police Service (Saps) members have managed to arrest three suspects in two separate incidents, in Polokwane and the North West, recovering R7.8 million worth of illegal cigarettes.

In Polokwane, police arrested two foreign nationals, aged 31 and 32, for being in possession of R500 000 worth of illicit cigarettes and for contravening the Immigration Act.

“The arrests were made on Thursday, 4 May 2023, at the Bergview Village,” said police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba.

According Ledwaba, members of the Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit received intelligence information about the storage of illicit cigarettes at Bergview in Musina.

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Colonel Ledwaba, said upon receiving a tip-off, police carried out an operation in the early hours, resulting in the apprehension of the two suspects.

“The duo was caught with roughly 1 500 boxes of illicit cigarettes. The street value of the cigarettes is estimated to be around R500 000.”

“The suspects are expected to appear in the Musina Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 5 May 2023, for possession of illicit cigarettes,” he confirmed.

Illicit cigarettes in North West

Earlier in the week, the North West Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit arrested a 49-year-old man for allegedly smuggling illicit cigarettes worth over R7.3 million.

Police spokesperson, Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso, confirmed that the discovery of the contraband stock and subsequent arrest was made on 3 May 2023, in Potchefstroom.

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Rikhotso explained the Hawks received information about a significant shipment of illicit cigarettes in a gas tanker truck from Buffelshoek to Potchefstroom.

“Acting on this information, they located and searched the truck, uncovering 482 master cases, each containing 50 cartons of illicit Chelsea cigarettes, as well as an additional 109 master cases, with 25 cartons in each,” he said.

Rhikhotso confirmed that both the cigarettes and the gas tanker truck were confiscated for further investigation.

He also said that the suspect involved in the transport of the cigarettes is scheduled to make his first appearance before the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court on 5 May 2023.

“He will face charges of possession of illicit cigarettes and violating the Customs and Excise Act 91 of 1964,” he concluded.