Police raid sees Merebank shop’s illegal cigarette sales go up in smoke

ILLEGAL cigarettes with a street value of R30,000 were confiscated by the members of the Outer Cluster Command task team headed by Wentworth SAPS captain, Lynton Houston on Thursday, 22 March.
Capt Houston and his team acted on information about illegal cigarettes being sold at a Merebank shop.

On their arrival at the shop, Cpt Houston was asked if he wanted to buy the cigarettes and was given a packet. “When he requested a receipt, the shopkeeper failed to produce one. The members walked inside the shop after introducing themselves and searched boxes and more packets of illegal cigarettes were found,” said Wentworth SAPS spokesman, Capt Mbuso Gumede.
The 27-year-old male who gave the officer the cigarettes volunteered to take the members to his residence, which was not far from his business.
On arrival more boxes were found inside a room and the officer, an expert in the SARS Custom and Excise Act, arrived and confirmed the cigarettes were illicit.
While being arrested, the man allegedly begged not to be arrested and produced cash in an alleged attempt to bribe police. “The officer counted R1,000 in cash and then added possession of illicit cigarettes and bribery to the man’s charges. He was detained at Wentworth SAPS cells and appeared in Wentworth court on Friday,” said Cpt Gumede.

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The boxes of cigarettes and cash used in the alleged bribe was confiscated by members as evidence.
Capt Gumede also warned those who sell a cough mixture known as ‘Linasione’ that they will be charged. He said arrests have been made of youths selling or consuming the substance in public places.
“The Medicine Act prohibits anyone from selling or being in possession of medication in bulk, except those who are trained as pharmacists or trainees supplying the medication under the guidance of a trained pharmacist. Nobody is allowed to sell or supply any medication to anyone unless they are qualified and authorised to do so,” added Capt Gumede.