SA police arrest two people in possession of cigar...

SA police arrest two people in possession of cigarettes, worth R70 000, on the N1 from Zimbabwe

Zim Now Writer

SAPS say two people will appear in a Limpopo court after they were arrested for allegedly smuggling illicit cigarettes hidden in a stock feed consignment. Photo:/SAPS

South African police have arrested two people and confiscated cigarettes worth R70 000 along the N1 from Zimbabwe.

“The truck transporting animal food was stopped by the police along the N1 road towards Polokwane, as it approached Sekonye junction under Botlokwa the policing area.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the cigarettes were reportedly smuggled from Zimbabwe. The suspects aged 25 and 28 are expected to appear before Morebeng Magistrate’s Court soon facing charges of transportation and possession of illicit cigarettes,” SA police said.

According to the police they acted on a tip-off and stopped the truck on Friday.

“The truck transporting animal food was stopped by the police along the N1 road towards Polokwane, as it approached Sekonye junction under Botlokwa the policing area,” SA police.

The police said the truck had been packed so that a cursory inspection would only reveal stacks of Lucerne (animal feed).

But with the tip off, police carried out a thorough inspection and discovered that half of the front side was loaded with 104 cartoons of Remington Gold illicit cigarettes with an estimated street value of R70 000.

The police have said that the two suspects on the truck will appear in a Limpopo court on charges of smuggling illicit cigarettes.

Zimbabwean produced cigarettes are very popular in South Africa and there is a flourishing black market trade in the product.

Cases of smuggling from Zimbabwe to South Africa are on the rise. Items recovered by police over the past few months include cigarettes, explosives, arms, footwear and contraceptive pills.