ILLEGAL cigarettes to the value of R38 780 were recovered and three suspects arrested following a combined effort by the Empangeni Flying Squad and the Mtunzini police.
The incident took place on the 28 January at 1 pm after a tip-off was received from community members.
According to Empangeni SAPS Captain Mbongeni Mdlalose, a Nissan Skyline with three occupants was seen driving along the N2 in a southerly direction.
The Empangeni Flying Squad, with the help of Mtunzini police, managed to stop the vehicle at the Mtunzini Toll Plaza. While searching the car a number of boxes containing illegal cigarettes was found and confiscated and the three suspects were arrested.
The driver of the car, Justice Mashoka, (32) is from Zimbabwe while the other two passengers, both women; Granette Komzareni (27) and Zondiwe Zulu (29) are both from Mozambique.
The three appeared in the Mtunzini Magistrate’s Court on the 29 January and the case was remanded till the 7 February for the bail application which was extended until Tuesday.
All three were found guilty and fined.
Mashoka had to pay a fine of R2 500 while both Komzareni and Zulu received a fine of R3 000 each.
