LIMPOPO – A 34-year-old Zimbabwean national woman who was caught with over R40 000 worth of illicit cigarettes was sentenced in the Musina Magistrate’s Court on Friday (February 4).
The accused in the matter, Tatenda Mashaire was arrested during a sting operation conducted within the Tshamutumbu policing area on January 21.
Hawks spokesperson Captain Matimba Maluleke explained that the members received a tip-off about the alleged illegal dealings at a certain house in Malale Village outside Musina.
“A sting operation by members of the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime investigation unit in collaboration with Crime Intelligence and SANDF was conducted and resulted in the arrest of the accused.”
Boxes containing Remington Gold cigarettes worth R43 684 were also seized on the scene, he said.
During her case Mashaire entered into a plea agreement with the state. The court found her guilty for for possession of illicit cigarettes and she was sentenced to a R40 000 fine or 24-months’ imprisonment, half of which is suspended for a period of five years on condition that she is not convicted of a similar offence during the period of suspension, he concluded.
