Another smuggler caught at border with R2 million cigarettes

Online, Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau

Zimbabwean and South African border security officials are continuing with a crack down on border crime that has resulted in the interception of a trucker with a contraband of cigarettes worth R2, 1 million that had been smuggled from Zimbabwe through Beitbridge border post.

To reduce crime, the officials are carrying out periodic joint operations along the boundaries of the two countries.

Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malasela Ledwaba said they arrested a 44-year-old foreign national male at the Beitbridge Port of Entry on Thursday, at approximately 3.15AM for attempting to smuggle illicit cigarettes with customs value of R2,139,000

“During routine profiling and searches of trucks at the South Gate entering the Republic of SA , police stopped a freight liner truck with Gauteng registration. The driver presented a manifest indicating that the truck was empty,” he said.

“However, a thorough search revealed that the truck was laden with pallets and several boxes positioned in front of the pallets. The vehicle was subsequently taken to the commercial ramp where it was opened, revealing it was loaded with 460 boxes. Each box, when opened, contained 100 cartoons of Remington Gold cigarettes. ”

Col Ledwaba said following the discovery, the suspect was detained at SAPS Musina and charged with smuggling of illicit cigarettes.

He is scheduled to appear before the Musina Magistrate’s Court on Monday, March 24.

South Africa has become one of the major destinations and conduits where mostly cigarettes are smuggled through Beitbridge border post or illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River.

It is understood that 30 percent of cigarettes in South Africa are from Zimbabwe, including Pacific, Remington gold, Mega, Dullahs, Branson, and Servilles.