BLOEMFONTEIN – The police-led Safer Festive Season Operation Shanela II has achieved significant results over the weekend. It led to the seizure of illicit cigarettes in transit aboard a truck and arrest of two male suspects as well as seizure of the truck used.

The suspects are expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on 27 October facing a charge for the possession of counterfeit goods.

Lt. Col Thabo Covane, provincial spokesperson for the police, said members intercepted an Isuzu truck carrying illicit cigarettes while travelling towards Bloemfontein via the N1 National Road -Raymond Mhlaba Road. He stated that members of the Bloemfontein Public Order Police Unit, assisted by the Bloemfontein K9 Unit, seized illicit cigarettes with an estimated street value of R4 million following a search.

Covane added that members were busy with operations in the Mangaung Metro when they received a request for urgent backup to search a suspected truck carrying illicit cigarettes. He said the truck, which had two occupants, was pulled over along the road.

“Upon a preliminary investigation, the two occupants were escorted to the Navalsig police station for further questioning, leading to the discovery of 300 boxes containing various illicit cigarettes.” he said. These included the Savanna, Chief, and Sahawi cigarette brands.

“The truck and the cigarettes were confiscated and booked into the Evidence Management System. A case docket was opened for investigation in connection with the illicit cigarettes,” said Covane.

He added that officials summoned as part of the broader investigation include the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and the Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA).

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In July, the Bloemfontein K9 Unit and Provincial Crime Intelligence arrested three foreign nationals in connection with the illicit cigarette trade in Boshof. This came after they discovered between 300 and 339 boxes alongside more than 15 000 loose packets of counterfeit cigarettes, with an estimated value of R3.6 million.