adminThupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
POLICE have intercepted another truckload with 1,078 boxes of Kingdom cigarettes worth $145,530 that were being smuggled into South Africa through Beitbridge Border Post.It is understood the cigarettes are worth R4,3 million on the South African market. The truck driver Timothy Kushata, 39, of Kuwadzana in Harare, has been arrested in connection with the matter.
The arrest brings to three the number of trucks which have been intercepted at the border in a space of three days.
On Sunday afternoon, the South African Revenue Services (SARS) intercepted two truckloads that were travelling from Zimbabwe to South Africa.
The two trucks were carrying a contraband worth R9 million and had indicated on the customs documents that the trucks were empty.
It is understood that Kushata was intercepted near the Zimra scanner shed by alert detectives from the Border Control Unit following a tip off.
Police officers close to the investigations said yesterday that Kushata had loaded the cigarettes in Harare and was on his way to Johannesburg.
“The matter is still under investigation and we have arrested the driver who is assisting us with investigations,” said a police source.
The officer commanding Beitbridge District Chief Superintendent Patrick Majuta could not be reached for comment.
derick.khumalo