POLOKWANE – The police in Limpopo again issued a stern warning to anyone caught in possession of illegal cigarettes regardless of whether the person was the seller or the buyer, that this was a criminal offence, which could be punished by jail time.
Polokwane police spokesperson, Capt Ntobeng Phala, said this after the police confiscated 1 668 cartons of illegal cigarettes along the N1 North just outside the city last Wednesday.
“Acting on a tip off from the crime intelligence unit, the Limpopo provincial police tracking team made a stellar move when they pulled over two sedans travelling along N1 North and recovered the illegal cigarettes,” Phala said.
He further said it was believed that the consignment was en-route to Johannesburg and was divided and loaded separately into two sedans with one sedan carrying 849 boxes of Remington Gold cigarettes and the other sedan carrying 819 boxes of the same.
Phala said a 31-year-old man from Empangeni was arrested for possession and/or dealing in illicit cigarettes. The driver of the other vehicle, who was driving in the direction of Lebowakgomo, stopped his vehicle and fled into the bushes. He had not been found as yet.
He said the suspect would appear before the Polokwane magistrate’s court shortly on charges of possession of illegal cigarettes and the dealing thereof.
Polokwane police station commander, Brig Tom Shingange warned that anyone involved in such criminal activities would be arrested.
He said the police would stop at nothing to make sure that such moves were curtailed and criminals were brought to book without fear or favour.
