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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
South African authorities have intercepted a 20-year-old migrant who was transporting cigarettes that are believed to have been smuggled.
Limpopo police spokesperson, Colonel Malasela Ledwaba confirmed the incident on Wednesday.
He said the man whose nationality is yet to be disclosed was found with contraband worth an estimated R160 000 by the provincial anti-smuggling team.
“The arrest followed a high-speed chase with the police on Tuesday morning within the Zebediela policing area in Capricorn District,” said Colonel Ledwaba.
“The members of the provincial anti-smuggling team followed information about a Ford Ranger pick-up truck travelling from Musina loaded with illicit cigarettes.
“The officers signalled for the driver to pull over, but the suspect accelerated, leading to a dangerous pursuit. The chase ensued over several kilometres.”
He said the suspect’s luck ran out when he lost control at the Zebediela and Mokopane junction and stopped.
The driver then jumped out and tried to evade arrest but was swiftly apprehended.
Upon inspection, police officers discovered 26 boxes of smuggled cigarettes in the vehicle.
The suspect will soon appear before the Mokopane Magistrate’s Court.
The smuggling of cigarettes from Zimbabwe into South Africa through illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River is rife. It is estimated that 30 percent of the cigarettes in South Africa are from Zimbabwe.
A box of cigarettes can be bought at US$120 from local producers before being sold for about US$250 to the smuggling syndicates. They then cross into South Africa where they sell them for anything above R15 000
Online Reporter