Sars said the cigarettes were falsely declared as Cotton Oil Cake. Photo: Sars
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) customs division has seized cigarettes worth an estimated total value of R9 million at Limpopo Beitbridge border post.
Sars officers intercepted the truck carrying 440 master boxes of Remington Gold cigarettes early on Saturday morning, 20 May.
Sars said the cigarettes were falsely declared as Cotton Oil Cake.
“The customs officer conducting random inspection became suspicious when the value of goods declared on the document and the load on the truck did not match. Upon questioning the driver, the answers provided were inconsistent with the document.
“He then redirected the truck to the inspection ramp and unpacked the load and discovered goods hidden under Cotton Oil Cake,” the revenue service said.
Sars said the truck and the goods were detained and booked at the revenue services state warehouse.
“The suspect/ driver was arrested and handed over to the South African Police Service (Saps).”
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Sars Commissioner Edward Kieswetter applauded the officers for their “dedication and commitment to protect the economy of the country.”
“Sars acting consonant with its strategic objective of making it hard and costly for taxpayers and traders who are wilfully defrauding the state will be dealt with forcefully and mercilessly.
Sars working with other law-enforcement agencies remain resolute in dealing with criminality and non-compliance with the country’s customs law,” Kieswetter said.
Earlier this month, a gas tanker truck driver was arrested in Potchefstroom, North West, for attempting to smuggle illicit cigarettes with an estimated value of more than R7.8 million.
The 49-year-old man was apprehended by the Hawks‘ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation following a tip-off about a large shipment of illicit cigarettes being transported in a gas tanker truck from Buffelshoek to Potchefstroom.
Police spokesperson, Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso, confirmed that the team acted on the information and intercepted the vehicle, leading to the discovery of the contraband cigarettes.
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