LIMPOPO – Members of the Limpopo Tracking Team, Highway Patrol, Groblersdal SAPS, and Marble Hall SAPS reservists arrested three men along the N11 highway yesterday (February 1).
The trio, aged between 24 and 40, were nabbed following a crime intelligence operation conducted by police officers. “The officers received information about a truck that was transporting illicit cigarettes from Musina to Gauteng. The said truck was spotted on the N11 highway en route to Marble Hall,” police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said in a statement.
The truck was stopped at Roedtan and 146 boxes of illicit Remington cigarettes were found hidden inside a compartment of the truck.
“The cigarettes are valued at R1.8m and the 24-year-old driver was arrested. The truck was reportedly escorted by a white Volkswagen Polo of which the two occupants tried to offer the officers R8 700 in gratification. The two, aged 30 and 40 respectively, were then also arrested for bribery,” Mojapelo explained.
The motor vehicle and truck were seized.
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe was pleased with the arrests and encouraged the team to continue their hard work.
“The trio appeared in the Naboomspruit Magistrate’s Court yesterday (February 3) on charges of dealing in illicit cigarettes and bribery. They will make their next appearance on February 10 for bail application,” Mojapelo concluded.
