Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
A SMUGGLER, who is part of a cartel which smuggles cigarettes through Beitbridge Border Post will have to pay a R1,5 million fine while the truck he was using for the crime has been forfeited to the State by South African authorities.
The recovered loot, which was a huge consignment of Remington Gold cigarettes brand, has also been forfeited.
Two trailers and two containers, which were used in the commission of crime, have also been forfeited to the State.
Desperate Chinomona, 52, was arrested last month while trying to smuggle the consignment into South Africa.
The Giyani Specialised Commercial Crime Court ruled on Friday that should Chinomona fail to pay the fine, he will be jailed an effective five years.
He was carrying a contraband of 343 boxes of cigarettes and 82 bricks worth R11,6 million, including levies and penalties.
Hawks spokesperson for Limpopo Province, Warrant Lethunya Mmuroa said the Volvo truck and the tobacco were forfeited to the State as part of the sentence.
“On the day in question, a Physical Inspector of the Cargo Division attached to the South African Revenue Service (SARS) in the Beitbridge Port of Entry stopped a driver of a Volvo truck with two trailers carrying two containers at Port of Entry.
“The truck was coming from Zimbabwe into South Africa.
“The Inspector searched and inspected that truck. He discovered that the lengths of the containers from inside to outside were not equal.
“A thorough search was conducted. During the search, the team discovered illegal self-made compartments on both containers.
“Such compartments were forcefully removed and 343 master boxes, 82 loose cartoons of illicit cigarettes called Remington Gold, valued at R11 591 038, were found inside the compartments”.
The official said a case docket was opened and Chinomona was arrested and charged with smuggling of illicit cigarettes.
The case was then handed over to the Musina-based Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team.
He said the accused made his first appearance at Musina Magistrates’ Court on April 14.
The matter was later transferred to Giyani Specialised Commercial Crime Court, where he was convicted and sentenced.
“The recovered illicit cigarettes and a Volvo truck, two trailers, and two containers used in the commission of crime were forfeited to the State.
“Furthermore, the accused was declared unfit to possess a firearm.”
The smuggling of cigarettes between Zimbabwe and South Africa has become a perennial headache for security officials in both countries who periodically carry out joint patrols to reduce the crime along the border.
