Smuggled Zim cigarettes land man in trouble

Thupeyo Muleya

South African police have arrested a 39-year-old man for alleged possession of smuggled cigarettes with an estimated value of over R900 000.

The contraband is believed to have been smuggled from Zimbabwe through an illegal crossing point.

Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafala Mojapelo said the man whose nationality is yet to be established was arrested on Friday.

“The arrest comes after members of Makhado Visible Policing received a tip-off about a suspicious black Toyota Corolla,  loading cigarettes at a storage facility in the Makhado Central Business District,” he said.

“An observation operation was immediately conducted,  supported by the Rural Safety Stakeholders.

“The said vehicle was then traced and stopped across the next street. During the search, few boxes of illicit cigarettes were found hidden in the boot.

“The suspect was arrested on the spot. Police investigations continued at the storage facility and about 3712 boxes of illicit cigarettes were then discovered”.