LIMPOPO – South African Police Service (SAPS) operations in Limpopo Province have resulted in significant arrests and the seizure of illicit cigarettes worth millions of rands during a three-day crime-fighting blitz in border areas around Beitbridge, Musina and Polokwane.
Three male suspects, aged between 27 and 44 and believed to be Zimbabwean nationals, were arrested during operations conducted over two-days, on 16 and 17 April.
The first breakthrough came on Wednesday, 15 April, when police in Polokwane discovered illicit cigarettes valued at approximately R600,000 in an abandoned vehicle. No arrest was made.
Thursday’s operation around Muswodi near Musina yielded the largest haul when police arrested a 44-year-old suspect and confiscated illicit cigarettes with an estimated value of R1,66 million.
Malesela Ledwaba, spokesperson for Limpopo police, said members conducting routine stop-and-search operations along the Muswodi public road discovered a large consignment of illicit cigarettes concealed inside a white Toyota GD6 bakkie.
“The driver was immediately arrested for contravention of the Customs and Excise Act,” said Ledwaba.
Friday’s operation in the small farming town of Letsitele resulted in the arrest of two suspects, aged 27 and 42 after police discovered 15 master boxes of illicit Remington Gold cigarettes valued at approximately R140,000. Authorities had acted on intelligence regarding two vehicles —a silver Chevrolet Captiva and a white Suzuki MPV, uspected of smuggling goods from Zimbabwe. Police said the suspects were arrested after a high-speed chase when they attempted to evade officers.
All three suspects are expected to appear in court on Monday, 20 April, facing charges of possession of illicit goods and contravention of the Immigration Act. The two suspects arrested regarding the R140,000 consignment will appear before the Letsitele Magistrate’s Court, while the 44-year-old suspect, busted for the R1.66 million consignment will appear in the Musina Magistrates Court. Police have also confiscated the three vehicles used in the transportation of illicit consignments as part of ongoing investigations into illicit cigarette trading.
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