Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
South Africa’s specialised police, the Hawks and that country’s National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) have secured a court order to forfeit a commercial truck and its two trailers, which they intercepted at Beitbridge border post with a load of cigarettes worth millions of rands.
The truck was carrying Zimbabwean-made cigarettes and travelling to South Africa in March this year when the driver, Lamek Maphiri, was intercepted during routine border checks.
In a statement, Hawks spokesperson for Limpopo province, Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa said they had successfully managed to secure forfeiture orders of properties valued at over R1 million.
“On 20 March 2025, the police at Beitbridge Port of Entry arrested the accused person, Lameck Maphiri for smuggling illicit cigarettes in South Africa. During the arrest, the police seized Truck Freightliner Argosy and two top trailers valued at R858 750. The matter was referred to Hawks Asset Forfeiture Investigation. After finalizing the investigations, the AFI referred to the Asset Forfeiture Investigation (AFU) for drafting the court order. On 24 July 2025, the Limpopo Division High Court in Polokwane granted the Forfeiture order for truck freightliner Argosy and two trailers,” he said.
“In another similar incident, the AFI and AFU secured another forfeiture order for a VW bus. During May 2023, members of the South African Police Service in Modimolle arrested an accused person, Joel Maepa, for unlawfully possessing illicit cigarettes. During the arrest police seized the Volkswagen (VW) bus that was used to deliver the recovered illicit cigarettes. The bus was valued at R162 600.
“The case was referred to the Hawks Asset Forfeiture Investigation for handling. The investigation was conducted and finalised. Thereafter, the matter was referred to the Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority for drafting of the court order. The Limpopo Division High Court in Polokwane granted a forfeiture order for the vehicle VW Crew bus”.
It is understood that South African customs laws are restrictive for Zimbabwean exporters to legally move the cigarettes from Zimbabwe to that country and hence an upsurge in the smuggling of various brands.
In most cases, these are being smuggled through the Limpopo River while others take their chances at the border.
Indications are that at least one third of cigarette brands on the South African market are smuggled from Zimbabwe including Pacific, Remington gold, Mega, Dullahs, Branson and Servilles.
Ideally, a box of cigarettes is bought at US$120 from local producers and sold for between US$250 and US$300 to the syndicates who then smuggle them into South Africa, where they sell for anything above R15 000.
Those that illegally transport the commodity across borders are paid between R100 and R300 per box and in most cases, this is done under the cover of darkness
